Retail sales 3 percent up

• Supermarkets report higher sales
• Clothes shops also achieve better results

Retail sales improved 3.4 percent in April this year relative to April 2010. This is predominantly due to higher prices (+ 2.5 percent) in the retail sector. Volume increased by nearly 1 percent. After correction for the number of shopping days, retail volume still grew marginally, according to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands.

Shops selling food products, drinks and tobacco realised a 5.4 percent higher turnover in April. With a turnover growth of 6.2 percent, supermarkets entirely accounted for the increase. The volume of sales increased by just over 4 percent. The average price increase was 2 percent. Specialised shops realised approximately the same turnover results as one year previously.

Turnover growth in the non-food sector was modest. Prices and volume both contributed to the results. In the dry and warm month of April, clothes shops reported higher sales. Household appliances shops and chemist shops also saw sales climb, but textile supermarkets, home furnishing shops and consumer electronics shops suffered turnover loss relative to April 2010.

Online retail shops recorded a turnover growth by nearly 2 percent in April. Petrol stations realised a turnover growth by 7.1 percent due to higher fuel prices.