Retail turnover up in March

• Higher turnover in food and non-food
• Turnover decrease of -1.3 percent in first quarter 2010

According to new figures from Statistics Netherlands, Dutch retailers realised 2.9 percent more turnover in March 2010 than in the same month last year. Retail turnover was clearly down in January and February. In March it rose for the first time after 13 months of decrease. Turnover in March this year is still well under the levels of March 2008 and 2007. In the first quarter, total turnover was 1.3 percent lower.
After adjustments for differences in the shopping day pattern between March 2010 and March 2009, the increase in turnover was around 0.5 percent.

Shops selling food, drink and tobacco realised nearly 3 percent more turnover in March 2010 than in March 2009. For specialist food shops, turnover remained at about the same level, while supermarkets increased their turnover.

In the non-food sector four branches had a higher turnover than twelve months previously, three suffered a loss. Turnover in the total sector was nearly 2 percent higher than twelve months previously. The volume rose by just over 1 percent, while prices were slightly higher.

Fuel prices rose strongly in March this year compared with the same month last year. This helped to push up turnover of petrol stations by more than 7 percent in March.