Retail turnover 5.1 percent down

• Non-food sector slumps nearly 8 percent in second quarter
• Retail turnover 4 percent down in June

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, retail turnover in the second quarter of this year was 5.1 percent down on the second quarter of 2008. Turnover volume shrank by 4.8 percent. Retail prices dropped 0.4 percent, partly due to slumping fuel prices

Sales in the non-food sector dropped by nearly 8 percent compared to the same quarter of 2008. Within the non-food sector, the most dramatic turnover decline was recorded in home furnishing (-10.6 percent) and consumer elekcronics (-16.3 percent). Petrol stations also sustained loss of turnover, almost entirely caused by lower fuel prices.

Within the retail sector, supermarkets were the only branch to realise turnover growth relative to the last year’s second quarter (+ 3.3 percent). Total turnover growth of shops selling food, drinks and tobacco products was 2.4 percent.

Retail turnover in June tallied with the entire second quarter. Consumer electronics shops saw their turnover shrink by no less than 21.4 percent. In the total non-food sector sales slumped 6.8 percent.