upturn for retail trade in October

• Higher turnover for non-food shops
• Good month for chemists and consumer electronics shops
• Continued turnover growth for food shops

According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands today, the Dutch retail sector climbed out of its recent slump in October. Retail turnover was 2.2 percent higher than in October last year. The recovery was the result of a 2.6 percent increase in sales volume compared with twelve months previously. Prices fell by 0.5 percent. Non-food shops in particular showed improvement. Shops selling food, tobacco and alcoholic drinks continued the growth they realised in September.

Turnover increase for non-food shops, especially chemists and electronics retailers

Non-food shops realised nearly 2 percent more turnover in October than twelve months previously. In September turnover in this sector decreased by around 4 percent. Turnover increased because customers bought more or more expensive items, prices continued to decrease slightly. Chemists and shops selling consumer electronics booked more turnover. Consumers also spent more in do-it-yourself stores and shops selling home furnishings. For clothes shops turnover shrank in October, but by less than in the relatively warm and sunny month of September. Textile discounters and shops selling household items again had a turnover decrease in October. 

Food, drink and tobacco shops continue growth

Turnover of shops selling food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco was nearly 4 percent higher in October than in the same month last year. The growth was larger for supermarkets than for specialist shops in this sector. Just as in preceding months, the larger sales volume accounted for nearly all of the increase. Prices were slightly higher. The increase was mainly the result of a more favourable composition of shopping days than in October last year.