Retail turnover up by almost 2 percent in January | Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

The figures for retail turnover have been adjusted for the pattern of shopping days in January, because more is sold on certain days of the week than on others. If no such adjustment is made, retail turnover in January 2024 was 2.4 percent higher than one year previously.

Turnover in non-food sector up by over 3 percent

In January, turnover in the non-food sector was up by 3.1 percent year on year. Sales volume (turnover adjusted for price changes) was also up 3.1 percent from one year previously.

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

Turnover in food shops slightly lower

Shops selling food, beverages and tobacco recorded a 0.4 percent lower turnover in January than one year previously. Sales volume was 2.5 percent lower. Turnover in supermarkets was down by 1.0 percent, while turnover in specialty shops was up by 4.1 percent.

Online turnover 3.7 percent higher

Online turnover was up by 3.7 percent year on year in January. Online retailers (whose core activity is selling goods and services over the internet) recorded an increase in turnover of 4.3 percent. Multi-channel retailers (retailers selling goods and services over the internet as a secondary activity) saw 2.8 percent higher turnover in their online sales.

Online turnover for food and personal care products, other non-food products and clothing and fashion items was higher in January than it was one year previously, while turnover for consumer electronics was lower.

With effect from the reporting month of January 2024, the base year for retail turnover has changed from 2015 to 2021. Due to the implementation of the Framework Regulation Integrating Business Statistics (FRIBS) in 2021, the base year will this time be 2021 instead of 2020. The next base shift will again take place in a usual year, namely 2025. The index series with reference 2021=100 will be published in a new StatLine table “Trade and services”. The old series (base year = 2015) can still be accessed in StatLine, but will no longer be updated.