Retail turnover over 3 percent up in July

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Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports for July 2021 that the Dutch retail sector recorded 3.4 percent year-on-year turnover growth. The volume of sales went up by 2.8 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.3 percent, but turnover in the food sector was down by 1.2 percent. Furthermore, online retail turnover increased by 11.1 percent. Relative to July 2019, the retail sector realised 12.9 percent more turnover in July 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 July 2021 was 3.9 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
2021July3.4
*excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Turnover in non-food sector over 3 percent higher

In July, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.3 percent year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) grew by 1.7 percent compared to the same month last year. Relative to July 2019, turnover of non-food shops was up by almost 13 percent in July 2021.

In July, clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather products realised higher turnover year-on-year for the fifth consecutive month. Turnover of these shops was also higher compared to July 2019. Shops selling furniture and home furnishings, selling personal care products and those selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring also recorded year-on-year turnover growth in July 2021; they achieved growth relative to July 2019 as well. Shops selling consumer electronics and white goods and shops selling recreational goods achieved less turnover than twelve months previously, but more turnover than in July 2019.

Less turnover for food shops

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 1.2 percent less turnover in July 2021 than in July 2020. The volume of sales was 0.7 percent lower. Turnover at specialist shops was down by 2.3 percent and turnover at supermarkets by 1 percent year-on-year. Relative to July 2019, the food retail sector realised 4.6 percent higher turnover.

Turnover branches retail sector* (adjusted for shopping days)
 July 21 (year-on-year % change)June 21 (year-on-year % change)
Total food-1.2-0.2
Supermarkets-1-0.4
Specialist shops-2.31.3
Total non-food3.37.5
Shoes and leather products7.421.2
Clothes6.720.9
Personal care products2.72.6
DIY products, kitchens, flooring24.6
Furniture and household articles0.51.8
Recreational goods-0.1-0.9
Consumer electronics-2.2-3.5
* excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Online turnover over 11 percent higher

In July 2021, online turnover was up by 11.1 percent year-on-year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 12.6 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.

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