Retail turnover up by 3.4 percent in April

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© CBS

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 3.4 percent higher in April 2026, year on year. Sales volume was up by 2.6 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector (including retail not in shops) increased by 3.5 percent, and turnover in the food sector (shops selling food, beverages and tobacco) increased by 3.2 percent. Meanwhile, online retail turnover rose by 5.9 percent, year on year.

The figures for retail turnover have been adjusted to reflect the shopping days in April, because more is sold on certain days of the week than on other days. Without such an adjustment, retail turnover in April would have been 3.0 percent higher than the previous year.

Turnover retail sector* (calendar adjusted)
 monthchange (year-on-year % change)
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
2024January2.3
2024February3.4
2024March4.3
2024April2
2024May2.4
2024June-0.6
2024July1.9
2024August2.3
2024September2.7
2024October2.4
2024November2.1
2024December1.9
2025January3.3
2025February2.2
2025March3.8
2025April3.6
2025May2.6
2025June3.2
2025July4
2025August3.6
2025September3.4
2025October2.9
2025November3.6
2025December2.4
2026January1.6
2026February1.6
2026March 3.2
2026April3.4
* excluding petrol stations

Turnover in non-food sector up by 3.5 percent

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.5 percent in April, year on year. Sales volume (turnover adjusted for price changes) was up by 3.1 percent on April 2025.

Turnover among chemists grew by 9.6 percent year on year. Turnover in shops selling recreational goods was up by 8.6 percent. Turnover in consumer electronics and shops selling DIY products (including kitchens and flooring) was up by 4.3 and 3.3 percent respectively. Turnover in clothes shops grew by 1.7 percent. Turnover in shops selling home furnishings was, with a growth of 0.1 percent, virtually the same as in April 2025. However, turnover in shops selling footwear and leather products was down by 3.6 percent year on year.

Turnover in food sector up by over 3 percent

Turnover in shops selling food, beverages and tobacco rose by 3.2 percent in April, year on year. Sales volume was 1.6 percent higher. Turnover in supermarkets was up by 3.8 percent, while in specialty shops it fell by 0.9 percent.

Turnover branches retail sector* (calendar adjusted)
 April 2026 (year-on-year % change)March 2026 (year-on-year % change)
Total food3.22.5
Supermarkets3.82.9
Specialist shops-0.90.2
Total non-food3.53.5
Personal care products9.63.1
Recreational goods8.63.6
Consumer electronics4.30.6
DIY products, kitchens, flooring3.32.9
Clothes1.72.1
Furniture and household articles0.15.4
Shoes and leather products-3.6-2
* excluding petrol stations

Online turnover nearly 6 percent higher

Turnover among online retailers was up by 5.9 percent in April, year on year. Online retailers (whose core activity is selling goods and services over the internet) recorded an increase in turnover of 6.2 percent. Online turnover among multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a secondary activity) was up by 5.5 percent.

Online turnover for consumer electronics rose by 11.1 percent and for clothing and fashion by 7.2 percent. Online turnover for food and personal care products and for other non-food products was up by 6.8 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.

Online turnover by subsector*
 April 2026 (year-on-year % change)March 2026 (year-on-year % change)
Total 5.97.8
Consumer electronics11.116.8
Clothing and fashion products7.212.4
Food and personal care products6.88.7
Other non-food products3.84
* excluding petrol stations