Retail turnover up by almost 2 percent in August

These are the most recent figures on this topic. View the previous figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Patricia Rehe
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 1.8 percent higher in August 2024 than in August 2023. Sales volume was up by 1.5 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector (including retail not in shops) increased by 3.6 percent, while turnover in the food sector (shops selling food, beverages and tobacco) decreased by 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, online retail turnover increased by 5.7 percent year on year.

The figures for retail turnover have been adjusted for calendar days in August, because more is sold on certain days of the week than on other days. Without such an adjustment, retail turnover in August 2024 would have been 2.8 percent lower than one year previously.

Turnover retail sector* (calendar adjusted)
 monthchange (year-on-year % change)
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-2.8
2021March6.6
2021April9.7
2021May9.5
2021June5.6
2021July2.8
2021August3.3
2021September4.2
2021October6.8
2021November5.3
2021December6.4
2022January18.1
2022February16
2022March9.3
2022April9
2022May2.1
2022June1.5
2022July5.9
2022August2.7
2022September6
2022October5
2022November6.8
2022December11.9
2023January11.2
2023February7.9
2023March4.9
2023April4.5
2023May5
2023June7.5
2023July4
2023August5.8
2023September3.8
2023October4.6
2023November3.3
2023December 3.2
2024January2.4
2024February3.4
2024March4.3
2024April2
2024May2.4
2024June-0.8
2024July1.7
2024August1.8
*excluding petrol

Turnover in non-food sector up by almost 4 percent

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.6 percent in August, year on year. Sales volume (turnover adjusted for price changes) was up by 4.7 percent from one year previously.

Chemists, clothes shops, shops selling footwear and leather products and those selling DIY products (including kitchens and flooring) saw year-on-year turnover growth in August. However, shops selling recreational goods, consumer electronics and home furnishings, all recorded a decrease in turnover.

Turnover in food sector down by over 1 percent

Turnover in shops selling food, beverages and tobacco was down by 1.2 percent in August, year on year. Sales volume was 4.5 percent lower. Turnover in supermarkets was down by 2.6 percent, while turnover in specialty shops was up by 9.7 percent.

Turnover branches retail sector* (calendar adjusted)
 August 2024 (year-on-year % change)July 2024 (year-on-year % change)
Total food-1.2-1.1
Specialist shops9.78.2
Supermarkets-2.6-2.4
Total non-food3.63.2
Personal care products11.66.7
Shoes and leather products8.33.3
DIY products, kitchens, flooring5.52.1
Recreational goods3.2-1.5
Clothes2.34.4
Consumer electronics-7.20.4
Furniture and household articles-8.1-7.5
* excluding petrol stations

Online turnover 5.7 percent higher

Turnover among online retailers was up by 5.7 percent in August, year on year. Online retailers (whose core activity is selling goods and services over the internet) recorded an increase in turnover of 10.8 percent. Meanwhile, multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a secondary activity) saw turnover in their online sales fall by 1.3 percent.

Online turnover for food and personal care products, consumer electronics and other non-food products was higher in August 2024 than it was one year previously. However, online turnover for clothing and fashion items decreased.

Online turnover by subsector
 August 2024 (year-on-year % change)July 2024 (year-on-year % change)
Total 5.78.8
Food and personal care products10.111.6
Consumer electronics7.112.7
Other non-food products5.36.7
Clothing and fashion products-4.77.5

The figures in this post are preliminary and subject to revision.