Last year, the volume of turnover in the retail trade sector was 0.8% higher than in 2000, the lowest rate of growth in the last seven years, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands. Shopping has become more expensive: retail prices were 5.2% higher in 2001 than in 2000.
Turnover increased by 6.1%.
Slightly lower volume in food sector As a whole, the volume of turnover in the food sector was slightly down last year on 2000. Turnover increased by 6.6%, while prices rose by 6.7%. Supermarkets, by far the largest group in the food sector, increased takings by 0.9%.
Higher turnover volume for non-food
The volume of turnover for non-food retailers was 1.3% higher in 2001 than in 2000. Prices here rose less strongly than in food shops. Turnover increased by 5.6% last year. Of the branches whose figures are available, chemists reported the largest turnover growth (+9.7%). Shops selling furniture and home decoration items, and do-it-yourself stores did better than average for the non-food sector last year.
Turnover volume down in December
In December 2001 the volume of turnover was 2.3% lower than in December 2000. Turnover was 3.1% higher, but prices rose by 5.5%. The fall in the volume of turnover was visible in both the food and the nonfood sectors.
(source: Statistics Netherlands)
