Retail turnover 5 percent down

• Turnover volume also 5 percent down
• Dramatic turnover decline in non-food sector

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Netherlands, retail turnover declined by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2008. Turnover volume shrank by 5.3 percent, retail prices rose 0.5 percent. Turnover was affected by a less favourable shopping-day pattern in 2009. After correction for this effect, turnover dropped by approximately 3 percent. In the first quarter of 2009, a noticeable turnover decline was observed in the non-food sector.

Turnover of shops specialised in food, drinks and tobacco remained stable in the first quarter of this year relative to the same period in 2008. Volume shrank, prices went up. Within the food sector, supermarkets achieved a turnover growth of nearly 2 percent.

Shops in the non-food sector faced a turnover loss of nearly 7 percent in the first quarter relative to the same period last year. Home firnishing shops, consumer electronics shops and DIY shops suffered the most dramatic turnover losses in the non-food sector.

In the retail trade sector, petrol stations were hit hardest and suffered a nearly 12 percent loss of turnover. The loss was predominantly caused by slumping fuel prices.