Retail turnover up by nearly 3 percent in May

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 2.9 percent higher in May 2026, year on year. Sales volume was up by 2.3 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector (including retail not in shops) increased by 3.9 percent, and turnover in the food sector (shops selling food, beverages and tobacco) increased by 1.2 percent. Meanwhile, online retail turnover rose by 4.8 percent, year on year.

The figures for retail turnover have been adjusted to reflect the shopping days in May, because more is sold on certain days of the week than on other days. Without this adjustment, retail turnover in May would have been 1.2 percent higher than the previous year.

Turnover in food sector up by 1.2 percent

Turnover in shops selling food, beverages and tobacco rose by 1.2 percent in May, year on year. Sales volume was 0.7 percent higher. Turnover in specialty shops was up by 1.6 percent, while in supermarkets it rose by 1.1 percent.

Turnover in non-food sector up by almost 4 percent

Turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.9 percent in May, year on year. Sales volume (turnover adjusted for price changes) was up by 3.1 percent on May 2025.

Of the most important branches in the non-food sector, chemists recorded the largest increase in turnover, at 6.5 percent. They were followed by shops selling home furnishings and clothes shops, with growth of 3.8 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. The increase in turnover for shops selling footwear and leather products was the smallest, at 0.7 percent.

Online turnover nearly 5 percent higher

Turnover among online retailers was up by 4.8 percent in May, year on year. Online retailers (whose core activity is selling goods and services over the internet) recorded an increase in turnover of 6.7 percent. Online turnover growth for multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a secondary activity) was less pronounced, at 3.5 percent.

Online turnover for clothing and fashion retailers rose by 14.0 percent, year on year. Online turnover for shops selling food and personal care products and for retailers of other non-food products was up by 5.5 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively. However, online turnover for consumer electronics retailers was the first contraction (-3.1 percent), following a year of growth.