Retailers were able to receive more shoppers in 2022 after two years of corona lockdowns. Consumers spent 6.7 percent more than a year earlier, the largest increase since 2005. This is mainly due to higher prices, as the sales volume fell by 0.6 percent last year.
We spent more in clothing, furniture and electronics stores in particular, Statistics Netherlands reports. The average turnover of non-food stores increased by 12.2 percent last year. At food stores, the difference was only 4.2 percent.
Remarkably enough, online sales were actually 7.6 percent lower than in 2021. This is probably because the longer lockdown period in 2021 meant that consumers made more purchases online instead of in the high streets.
Fewer products were also bought in December 2022 (-0.5 percent). But because of the higher prices, retailers still earned 11 percent more.
Food, beverage and tobacco shops achieved 5.7 percent more turnover last December than in December 2021. However, the sales volume was 7.8 percent lower than a year earlier.