Retail turnover grows by 3.5 percent in August

In August 2026, shops in the Netherlands sold more goods than in August 2025. This was reported by Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS). The total turnover of all shops combined was 3.5 percent higher than last year.

Shops also sold more products. The number of goods sold rose by 2.7 percent. Shops that do not sell food or drinks (non-food) performed particularly well.

Their turnover was 5 percent higher than last year. Shops selling furniture and household goods performed especially well. They sold more than 7 percent more.

Shops selling recreational goods, such as sports or games equipment, also recorded nearly 6 percent higher turnover. Only shoe shops and leather-goods shops sold slightly less than last year. Shops selling food and drinks, such as supermarkets and specialty stores, recorded slightly higher turnover.

Turnover in this sector grew by nearly 1 percent. Supermarkets sold 1 percent more, while specialty stores such as bakeries and butcher shops grew by 0.4 percent. People also bought more goods online.

Online turnover rose by more than 6 percent. Online shops that primarily sell through the internet performed well, with turnover increasing by 7 percent. Shops that sell both online and in physical stores grew by nearly 5 percent.

Online food shops and drugstores in particular grew sharply, with turnover increasing by nearly 10 percent. Online clothing shops sold more than last year, with growth of more than 6 percent. Other online non-food shops grew by 4.2 percent.