Retail turnover almost 7 percent up in October

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© CBS / Nikki van Toorn
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports for October 2021 that the Dutch retail sector recorded 6.6 percent year-on-year turnover growth. The volume of sales went up by 4.8 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 12.7 percent, while turnover in the food sector was down by 1.8 percent. Furthermore, online retail turnover increased by 3.4 percent. Relative to October 2019, the retail sector realised 14.2 percent more turnover in October 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 October 2021 was 4.3 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
2021September4.1
2021October6.6
*excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Turnover in non-food sector almost 13 percent higher

In October, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 12.7 percent year-on-year. The volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) grew by 9.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Relative to October 2019, turnover of non-food shops was up by over 14 percent in October 2021.

In October, turnover of clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather products was again significantly higher than one year previously. It was also higher than in October 2019. Furthermore, shops selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring, shops selling personal care products, shops selling furniture and home furnishings and those selling recreational goods recorded turnover growth, both relative to October 2020 and October 2019. Shops selling consumer electronics and white goods achieved less turnover than twelve months previously, but more turnover than in October 2019.

Turnover of food shops down by almost 2 percent

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 1.8 percent less turnover in October 2021 than in the same month last year. The volume of sales was 2.1 percent lower. Turnover at specialist shops was up by 0.8 percent, while turnover at supermarkets was down by 2.1 percent year-on-year. Relative to October 2019, the food retail sector realised over 4 percent higher turnover.

Turnover branches retail sector* (adjusted for shopping days)
 October 2021 (year-on-year % change)September 2021 (year-on-year % change)
Total food-1.8-0.3
Specialist shops0.84.2
Supermarkets-2.1-0.9
Total non-food12.74
Clothes46.69.4
Shoes and leather products34.93.7
Recreational goods9.84.3
Personal care products7.46.9
DIY products, kitchens, flooring2.12.4
Furniture and household articles0.4-3.7
Consumer electronics-5.92.5
* excluding petrol stations and pharmacies

Online turnover over 3 percent higher

In October, online turnover was up by 3.4 percent year-on-year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 2.1 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 5.1 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 October 2021 than in the same month last year. However, online sales of consumer electronics were lower than in October 2020.

Online retail turnover by subsector
 October 2021 (year-on-year % change)September 2021 (year-on-year % change)
Total 3.410.2
Clothing and fashion products27.317.4
Food and personal care products10.216
Other non-food products2.311.7
Consumer electronics-22.8-11.5

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