Retail turnover down in September

In September 2011, Dutch retailers faced 1 percent loss of turnover compared to September 2010. Retail prices were more than 3 percent up, whereas retail volume shrank by 4 percent.

Retail turnover is strongly affected by the shopping-day pattern. With a Wednesday less and a Friday more, the shopping-day pattern was more favourable in September 2011 than in September 2010. The positive effect on turnover is estimated at approximately 1 percent.

Shops in the non-food sector faced nearly 6 percent loss of turnover. Turnover of textile supermarkets, clothes shops and consumer electronics shops declined between 9 and 13 percent. Turnover realised by home furnishing shops, DIY shops and chemist’s shops also declined, though to a lesser extent. With 1 percent turnover loss, household appliances shops performed relatively well within the non-food sector.

The sector food, drinks and tobacco generated a turnover growth by 3.5 percent. Supermarket sales grew by more than 4 percent, whereas turnover generated by specialist shops was below the level of twelve months previously.

Petrol stations achieved 5 percent turnover growth relative to September 2010. Petrol prices were more than 11 percent higher than twelve months previously. Apart from traditional shops and petrol stations, mail-order firms and online shops are also included in the retail sector. Their sales were nearly 8 percent up on one year previously.

Retail turnover

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.