Retail turnover marginally up in November

• Higher retail prices, shrinking volume

The most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands show that retail turnover increased by 1.3 percent in November 2011 relative to the same period in the previous year. Prices rose by 2.9 percent, but the volume of retail sales shrank by 1.6 percent.

The shopping-day pattern was more favourable in November 2011 than in November 2010. The positive effect of the shopping-day pattern is estimated at approximately 0.5 percent.

Food, drinks and tobacco shops realised a turnover growth by more than 2 percent. Higher prices entirely accounted for the growth, the volume of sales was the same as one year previously. After correction for the positive effect of shopping days, volume declined marginally. Supermarkets achieved turnover growth, but specialist shops had to cope with turnover loss.

Turnover generated in the non-food sector was nearly 1 percent down on one year ago. Textile supermarkets, home furnishing shops, DIY shops and consumer electronics shops struggled with negative turnover growth, but clothes shops, household appliances shops and chemist shops recorded turnover growth.

Mail-order firms and online shops generated a 5 percent higher turnover. Higher fuel prices accounted for a higher turnover for petrol stations.