nuOct 1, 2026, 05:57

Retail sales rise in August, largest growth in a year

Dutch retailers reported their highest revenue growth in a year during August 2026, with overall sales volume rising by 2.7 percent. The growth was led by the non-food sector and strong online sales, while food sector growth remained more limited.

Retailers in the Netherlands experienced their strongest sales growth in a year during August 2026. Data from the Dutch statistical bureau CBS indicates that the overall sales volume increased by 2.7 percent compared to the previous year. This positive trend was primarily driven by the non-food sector, which saw a 5 percent increase in revenue, while the food sector grew more modestly at 0.9 percent.

Within the non-food category, furniture and home furnishing stores saw the most significant growth at over 7 percent, followed by recreation equipment retailers. Online shopping also performed well, recording an increase of over 6 percent in revenue. While nearly all sub-sectors showed improvement, retailers specializing in footwear and leather goods were the only group to report lower revenue figures compared to August 2025. These figures are adjusted for the composition of shopping days to provide a clearer comparison of retail performance.

Economy Business Netherlands

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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