Difference in shopping-day pattern accounts for marginal turnover loss retail sector

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Statistics Netherlands announced today that turnover generated by the retail sector in November 2014 was 0.6 percent down from the same month in 2013. The shopping-day pattern predominantly accounts for the downturn: with a Friday less and one Sunday more, the shopping-day pattern was less favourable than in November 2013. If the effects of the shopping-day pattern are not taken into account, retail turnover rose marginally in November.

Prices continue to fall, volume of sales stable

Retail prices fell marginally by 0.5 percent, just as in the preceding months. The volume of sales was approximately the same as one year previously.

Shopping-day pattern has negative effect on turnover food, drinks and tobacco shops

Turnover generated by food, drinks and tobacco shops was down by 1 percent in November. In September and October, turnover had risen by approximately 4 percent. The volume of sales shrank, prices were marginally higher. Specialist shops performed less well than supermarkets. Friday is usually a busier day than Sunday for food, drinks and tobacco shops. After correction for calendar effects, turnover increased marginally in September, October and November.

Turnover non-food sector stable

In the non-food sector, turnover was about the same in November 2014 as in November 2013. Prices fell by approximately 1 percent, but the effect of the lower prices was offset by a volume growth of 1 percent.

Home furnishing shops perform well again

Turnover results in the non-food sector vary considerably. Clothes shops, textile supermarkets and household appliances shops faced loss of turnover. DIY shops also performed less well in November, although they had recorded positive results in the preceding months. Chemist shops and consumer electronics shops showed better turnover results compared to one year previously, but the growth rate was below the level of October. With a turnover growth of nearly 3 percent, home furnishing shops again performed well.

Substantial turnover growth mail-order firms and online shops

Mail-order firms and online shops boasted a distinct turnover growth by nearly 11 percent in November. The growth rate was about the same as in prior months.