Retail turnover over 3 percent up in 2019

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 December 2019 was 3.9 percent higher than in the same month one year previously.

Second highest turnover growth since 2007

Just as in 2018, the Dutch retail sector realised 3.4 percent turnover growth in 2019. This is the second highest turnover growth since 2007. In 2017, turnover grew by 4.2 percent.

Retail turnover reached a low in 2013. This was followed by an upward trend. In 2019, turnover in the retail sector was 8.7 percent higher than before the crisis. However, turnover generated by the non-food sector was still 10 percent lower than in 2008. In the food sector, on the other hand, turnover was 20 percent higher than its pre-crisis level.

Turnover growth non-food sector almost 3 percent up in 2019

Turnover in the non-food sector rose by 2.9 percent in 2019. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) was 2.1 percent up year-on-year.

Shops selling furniture and household articles and shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring achieved the largest turnover increase. Turnover of shops selling personal care products and shops selling consumer electronics and white goods also grew, while turnover of clothes shops remained more or less the same. However, turnover of shops selling recreational goods and shops selling footwear and leather products declined.

Over 1 percent turnover growth for food sector

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 1.3 percent more turnover than in 2018. The volume of sales was virtually the same. Supermarkets saw their turnover grow by 1.6 percent, while turnover of specialist shops declined by 0.9 percent. Furthermore, the volume of sales generated by supermarkets was up year-on-year, but sales were down for specialist shops.

Online shops realise almost 17 percent turnover growth

In 2019, online shops saw their turnover go up by 16.6 percent relative to 2018. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of almost 14 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 over 21 percent higher turnover in online sales.