Retail turnover up by 2.7 percent in September

These are the most recent figures on this topic. View the previous figures here.
Busy shopping street in Rotterdam
© ANP / Robin Utrecht

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that retail turnover was 2.7 percent higher in September 2026, year on year. Sales volume was up by 1.8 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector increased by 4.6 percent. However, turnover in the food sector (shops selling food, beverages and tobacco) was down by 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, online retail turnover rose by 4.5 percent, year on year.

The figures for retail turnover have been adjusted to reflect the pattern of shopping days in August, because more is sold on certain days of the week than others. Without this adjustment, retail turnover in August would have been 3.3 percent higher than in September 2025.

Turnover in food sector down by 0.5 percent

Turnover in specialty shops rose by 3.1 percent in September, year on year, while turnover in supermarkets fell by 1.0 percent. Sales volume was down by 0.2 percent, year on year.

Turnover in non-food sector grew by 4.6 percent

Turnover in the non-food sector (including online sales) was up by 4.6 percent in September, year on year. Sales volume was up by 2.7 percent on September 2025. Almost all the main subsectors recorded an increase in turnover in September. Shops selling recreational goods saw the largest increase in turnover of all the subsectors, at almost 8 percent. Next came shops selling personal care products, which saw turnover growth of almost 6.4 percent. Only shops selling furniture and household articles recorded lower turnover than they did in September 2025.

Turnover of online retail up again

Turnover among online retailers was up by 4.5 percent in September, year on year. Online retailers (whose core activity is selling goods and services over the internet) recorded an increase in turnover of 5.0 percent. Online turnover growth for multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a secondary activity) was 3.7 percent.

In all subsectors, online turnover was up in September, year on year. Shops selling consumer electronics recorded the largest increase, at 7.2 percent. Clothing and fashion retailers were next with a rise of almost 5 percent. Turnover growth among shops selling food and personal care products was the lowest, at 2.9 percent.

The figures in this news release are provisional and may be adjusted.

Sources