Retail turnover marginally lower

Dutch retailer turnover in April almost equalled the level in April 2009. Retail prices were nearly 2 percent up on one year previously. Retail turnover is affected by the monthly number of shopping days and holidays. The shopping-day and holiday pattern was slightly more favourable in April 2010 than in April 2009. After a rough correction for this effect, turnover was more than 1 percent lower than twelve months previously.

Turnover generated in the non-food sector was down by 4 percent. Prices hardly changed compared with April 2009.  Sales were down in all branches of the non-food sector with the exception of textile supermarkets and households articles shops. Clothes shops and home furnishing shops faced the most dramatic loss of turnover. Sales in the non-food sector grew by 2 percent in March, the first increase in eighteen months.

Turnover in the food sector rose by 2 percent. Prices were marginally lower than one year previously. The increase in turnover was entirely due to supermarket sales.

Petrol stations realised nearly 10 percent more turnover in April than one year previously, largely as a result of higher fuel prices. About one tenth of total retail turnover is generated by petrol stations.

Retail turnover