Retail turnover over 4 percent up in 2021

Turnover in non-food sector 2.5 percent higher

In 2021, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 2.5 percent. However, the volume of sales (adjusted for price changes) decreased by 0.2 percent year on year. Relative to 2019, turnover of non-food shops was up by 2.2 percent.

Turnover of clothes shops, shops selling footwear and leather products and those selling personal care products was higher than in 2020. In that year, clothes shops and shops selling footwear and leather goods suffered heavy losses, partly due to the store closures in the spring and in December. These stores also had to deal with lockdowns in 2021. Compared to 2019, turnover was still significantly lower in 2021.

Shops selling recreational goods achieved virtually the same turnover as in 2020. Shops selling consumer electronics and white goods, shops selling furniture and home furnishings, and those selling DIY products, kitchens and flooring recorded turnover losses in 2021, against a record turnover in 2020. Nevertheless, turnover of these shops was higher in 2021 compared to 2019.

Turnover of food shops almost 1 percent up

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco achieved 0.6 percent more turnover than in 2020. The volume of sales was 0.3 percent higher. Turnover at supermarkets was up by 0.5 percent, at specialist shops by 1.4 percent. Relative to 2019, the food retail sector realised over 7.6 percent turnover growth.

Online turnover almost 24 percent higher

In 2021, online turnover was up by 23.6 percent year on year. Web shops recorded a turnover increase of 18.9 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 29.4 percent higher turnover in online sales. In 2020, online turnover grew by almost 44 percent.

Retail turnover 6,2 percent up in December

In December, the Dutch retail sector recorded 6.2 percent year-on-year turnover growth. The volume of sales went up by 3.0 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 14.5 percent, while turnover in the food sector was down by 1.3 percent. Furthermore, online retail turnover increased by 2.1 percent. Relative to December 2019, the retail sector realised 2.6 percent more turnover in December 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 December 2021 was 7.6 percent higher than in the same month in 2020.