Retail turnover nearly 9 percent down

In May, Dutch retailers faced a nearly 9 percent turnover loss relative to one year previously. The decrease was mostly due to smaller sales volumes. Prices were nearly 1 percent down on May 2008 as a result of much lower fuel prices at petrol stations. Prices of articles in food and non-food shops rose by 3 and nearly 1 percent respectively compared to one year previously.

Retail turnover is affected by the number of shopping days and the holiday pattern. With a Thursday less and an extra Sunday, the pattern was more unfavourable in May this year than in 2008. After an approximate correction for this effect, turnover was about 6 percent lower than one year previously.

Turnover realised by petrol stations plunged by 17 percent in May. The loss was almost entirely due to lower fuel prices. Turnover of non-food shops was down by 11 percent. Turnover levels were reduced dramatically across all branches in this sector, chemist’s shops performed best, facing a turnover loss of 5 percent relative to May 2008.

Sales in the food sector dropped by nearly 3 percent. Loss of turnover in supermarkets was smaller than in specialised food shops.

Retail turnover