Retail sales at same level as in October 2011

• Price increase obviously higher than during the past six months
• Turnover loss for non-food sector
• Substantial growth sales mail-order firms and online shops

Retail sales declined by 0.1 percent in October 2012 compared to the same month last year. Retail volume shrank by 2.9 percent, retail prices were 2.8 percent up from October 2011. The VAT increase, introduced on 1 October, caused retail prices to rise much faster than during the past six months. According to the most recent figures released by Statistics Netherlands, the shopping-day pattern had a marginal positive effect on retail sales of approximately 0.5 percent.

Turnover generated by the non-food sector declined by 3 percent relative to one year previously. Prices of non-food articles rose by more than 1 percent, volume declined by 4 percent. In September, volume and sales in the non-food sector were about at the same level as in September 2011. Clothes shops, consumer electronics shops and DIY stores performed less than in September 2012.

Food, drink and tobacco sales fell by 2.8 percent. Specialist shops coped with shrinking sales, but supermarkets realised a turnover growth by more than 3 percent. The volume of supermarket sales also increased.

Mail-order firms and online shops achieved excellent results as sales grew by no less than nearly 19 percent, the most substantial growth in more than two years. Petrol stations achieved the same results as in October 2011.