Retail turnover nearly 9 percent down

In May, Dutch retailers faced a nearly 9 percent turnover loss relative to one year previously. The decrease was mostly due to smaller sales volumes. Prices were nearly 1 percent down on May 2008 as a result of much lower fuel prices at petrol stations. Prices of articles in food and non-food shops rose by over 3 and nearly 1 percent respectively compared to one year previously.

Retail turnover is affected by the number of shopping days and the holiday pattern. With a Thursday less and an extra Sunday, the pattern was more unfavourable in May this year than in 2008. After an approximate correction for this effect, turnover was about 6 percent lower than one year previously.

Turnover realised by petrol stations plunged by more than 17 percent in May. The loss was almost entirely due to lower fuel prices. Turnover of non-food shops was down by nearly 11 percent. Turnover levels were reduced dramatically across all branches in this sector, chemist’s shops performed best, facing a turnover loss of nearly 5 percent relative to May 2008.

Sales in the food sector dropped by over 3 percent. Loss of turnover in supermarkets was smaller than in specialised food shops.

Retail turnover