Retail turnover 4 percent up in September

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© CBS
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports for September 2021 that the Dutch retail sector recorded 4 percent year-on-year turnover growth. The volume of sales went up by 2.7 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.5 percent, turnover in the food sector remained the same. Furthermore, online retail turnover increased by 10.0 percent. Relative to September 2019, the retail sector realised 11.6 percent more turnover in September 2021.

Retail turnover data have been adjusted for changes in the shopping-day pattern. Retail sales tend to vary from one day to the next. If the shopping-day pattern is not taken into account, retail turnover in September 2021 was 4.7 percent higher than in the same month last year.

Turnover retail sector* (adjusted for shopping days)
 monthchange (year-on-year % change)
2015January1.4
2015February2.4
2015March1.4
2015April1.6
2015May1.4
2015June4
2015July2.9
2015August1
2015September5
2015October2.4
2015November1.1
2015December2.8
2016January1.5
2016February2.2
2016March1.5
2016April0.8
2016May3.5
2016June1.4
2016July2.8
2016August2.1
2016September0.4
2016October5.2
2016November5
2016December2.3
2017January5
2017February2.9
2017March4.6
2017April4.3
2017May3.8
2017June4.5
2017July4.5
2017August4.5
2017September5.8
2017October1.5
2017November5.4
2017December3.7
2018January3.6
2018February3
2018March1.7
2018April5.7
2018May3.7
2018June3.2
2018July3.8
2018August3.5
2018September1.9
2018October3.4
2018November4.2
2018December2.6
2019January1.5
2019February4.1
2019March4.1
2019April1.9
2019May2.6
2019June3.1
2019July3
2019August2.9
2019September4.4
2019October3.6
2019November2.4
2019December5.2
2020January3.5
2020February4.9
2020March3.4
2020April-1
2020May8.6
2020June10.2
2020July9.2
2020August10.2
2020September7.3
2020October7.2
2020November10.1
2020December-3.4
2021January-6.1
2021February-2.7
2021March6.7
2021April9.6
2021May9.4
2021June5.4
2021July2.7
2021August3.3
2021September4
*excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Turnover in non-food sector over 3 percent higher

In September, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.5 percent year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) grew by 1.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Relative to September 2019, turnover of non-food shops was up by over 9 percent in September 2021.

The recovery in turnover of clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather products continued in September 2021. These shops again achieved higher turnover than one year previously. However, their turnover in September 2021 was lower than in September 2019.

Shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring, shops selling personal care products, shops selling consumer electronics and white goods and those selling recreational goods recorded turnover growth, both relative to September 2020 and September 2019. Shops selling furniture and home furnishings achieved less turnover than twelve months previously, but more turnover than in September 2019.

Turnover of food shops unchanged

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved the same turnover in September 2021 as in the same month last year. However, the volume of sales was 0.4 percent lower. Turnover at specialist shops was up by 3.6 percent while turnover at supermarkets was down by 0.6 percent year-on-year. Relative to September 2019, the food retail sector realised over 5 percent higher turnover.

Turnover branches retail sector* (adjusted for shopping days)
 September 2021 (year-on-year % change)August 2021 (year-on-year % change)
Total food0-3.6
Specialist shops3.61.4
Supermarkets-0.6-4.3
Total non-food3.56.9
Clothes9.322.4
Personal care products6.24.6
Shoes and leather products3.312
Recreational goods2.4-0.8
DIY products, kitchens, flooring1.77.2
Consumer electronics1.3-2.9
Furniture and household articles-3.65.2
* excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Online turnover 10 percent higher

In September, online turnover was up by 10 percent year-on-year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 10.8 percent; their core activity is selling goods and services over the internet. Multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a side activity) achieved 9 percent higher turnover in online sales.

Online turnover of clothing and fashion items, food and personal care products, and other non-food products was higher in September 2021 than in the same month last year. However, online sales of consumer electronics were lower than in September 2020.

Online retail turnover by subsector
 September 2021 (year-on-year % change)August 2021 (year-on-year % change)
Total 1010.4
Clothing and fashion products17.220.7
Food and personal care products15.918.7
Other non-food products11.413
Consumer electronics-11.7-16.7

The figures in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.