Retail trade: higher prices, lower sales

• Higher turnover food, drinks and tobacco shops
• Turnover non-food sector down

Retail sales in the second quarter of 2011 were 1.4 percent up on the second quarter of 2010. Turnover growth is entirely due to an average price increase of 2.6 percent. The volume of sales shrank by 1.2 percent. Figures released by Statistics Netherlands show that in the three preceding quarters the volume of sales had not changed relative to the corresponding period in the previous year.

Turnover generated by food, drinks and tobacco shops was more than 2 percent higher than in the same quarter last year due to a price increase of more than 2 percent. Sales did not improve. Turnover realised by supermarkets grew nearly 3 percent, while turnover achieved by specialised shops declined 1 percent.

Turnover generated in the non-food sector was down on one year previously. The downturn was only partly offset by higher prices. Textile supermarkets, home furnishing and consumer electronics retailers had to cope with loss of turnover, while chemists and household appliances shops generated more turnover.

Turnover growth of petrol stations, mail-order firms and online shops slowed down relative to the first quarter.

Retail turnover in June was the same as in June 2010. Only supermarkets, petrol stations and DIY shops performed better.