Retail sales in the third quarter were 9.2 percent higher than in the same period last year. Which turns out Tuesday from figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). It is the strongest increase since the measurements started in 2005. Internet sales rose by 38.3 percent.
According to Statistics Netherlands, the higher sales are a result of the corona crisis. Although the on-trade was reopened in the third quarter, we still bought a relatively large number of food products. Turnover in the food sector was 6.4 percent higher, compared to 7.5 percent in the second quarter.
Specialty stores such as butchers, greengrocers, cheese shops and liquor stores performed particularly well. In the third quarter, their turnover was 9.2 percent higher, which is also the largest increase since the start of the measurement in 2005.
Besides eating, we also continue to do a lot of odd jobs. In the non-food sector, turnover increased by 8 percent. Especially in stores where you can buy DIY items, kitchens and floors, much more was sold. Turnover there rose by 18.7 percent. Furniture stores saw their turnover increase by 17.2 percent.
Nevertheless, turnover was not higher at all stores. The turnover of clothing stores fell by 3.4 percent and that of shoe and bag stores by 4.9 percent. In the second quarter that turnover shrank more sharply.
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