Retail sales growth in the Netherlands slowed at the start of 2026, with year-over-year gains easing to 2.5% in January, down from a revised 4.5% increase recorded in December 2025.
According to the latest data, updated on 2 March 2026, January’s figure reflects a moderation in annual growth when compared with the same month a year earlier, in line with the standard year-over-year methodology. December’s reading similarly measured the change versus December a year before, indicating that Dutch consumers ended 2025 on a stronger footing than they began 2026.
The deceleration suggests a cooler retail environment moving into the new year, as the pace of consumer spending growth has clearly lost momentum after a comparatively robust December performance.
