Retail turnover barely up in third quarter

• Prices up, volume down
• Sales non-food sector have downward effect on retail turnover
• Turnover non-food sector substantially down in September

In the third quarter of 2011, retail turnover grew by 0.3 percent relative to the same period last year. Retail prices were 2.9 percent higher, volume declined by 2.6 percent. According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, non-food shops pushed down sales and volume in the retail sector.

Non-food shop sales dropped by approximately 2 percent. Higher prices did not entirely compensate for the volume decline by nearly 4 percent. Turnover declined in nearly all branches of the non-food sector. Clothes shops and consumer electronics shops had to cope with loss of turnover.

Turnover generated by food, drinks and tobacco shops was nearly 2 percent higher than in the same quarter last year, entirely due to higher prices. Volume contracted marginally. Supermarkets realised a higher turnover, but specialist shops performed less well than in the same quarter last year.

Mail order firms and online shops realised a turnover growth by nearly 6 percent, petrol stations achieved a turnover growth by more than 5 percent.

Sales were down in most branches of the retail sector. The loss is almost entirely due to non-food shops. Altogether, non-food turnover dropped by nearly 6 percent in September, volume shrank by more than 7 percent. Clothes shops, consumer electronics shops and textile supermarkets recorded considerable turnover losses.