Retail sales marginally up

• Higher prices, sales down
• 8 percent turnover increase online sales

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, retail turnover improved 0.5 percent in May 2011 relative to May 2010. This is entirely due to an average retail price increase of 2.7 percent. The volume of sales in the retail sector shrank by 2.1 percent.

The shopping-day pattern had a negative effect on sales. After correction for this effect, turnover increased more than 2 percent. The volume shrank maginally, as was also the case in the first four months of 2011.

Food, drinks and tobacco retailers saw sales drop by nearly 1 percent in May. The volume loss was not entirely offset by higher prices. Supermarkets and specialist shops faced loss of turnover.

The non-food sector also had to cope with a dip in sales of approximately 1 percent. Home furnishing shops suffered most, while textile supermarket sales were considerably up from one year ago.

Online retail sales grew by 8 percent. Fuel stations realised higher turnover due to an average price increase of more than 9 percent.