Retail sales in the Netherlands increased by 2.7% year-on-year in September 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 3.8% in August, which had been the strongest growth in more than a year. This was the weakest reading since February, largely due to softer food sales, which slowed to 0.5% from 1.0% in August. Supermarket turnover was flat after a 1.0% rise in the previous month, while sales at specialty food stores accelerated to 3.1% from 1.2%.
Growth in non-food sales also cooled, slipping to 4.6% from 5.4%. This reflected weaker performances in clothing, where growth slowed to 1.1% from 4.2%, and in furniture and home furnishings, which swung to a 0.3% decline after a 7.0% increase. By contrast, sales of recreational goods picked up, rising 7.9% versus 6.2% in August. Turnover in consumer electronics and white goods strengthened markedly, increasing 4.0% after just 0.4% previously, while sales of DIY products, kitchens and flooring advanced 3.3%, up from 2.1%.
On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales edged down by 0.1% in September, reversing an upwardly revised 0.7% gain in August.
