Dutch Retail Sales Growth Hits Nearly 2-Year High

Retail sales in the Netherlands rose by 5% year-on-year in July 2025, accelerating from an upwardly revised 3.4% increase in the previous month.

This marked the thirteenth consecutive month of growth in retail activity and the strongest pace since September 2023, supported by higher sales of both food (5.2% vs 3.3% in June) and non-food products (4.9% vs 3.5%), as well as another solid expansion in online trade (6.2% vs 6.6%).

Food sales gained momentum as supermarkets recorded stronger sales (6.3% vs 3.5%), while specialty shops declined (-2% vs 2.1%).

Non-food activity also improved, with clothing (2.2% vs 0.7%), footwear (8.9% vs 0.1%), and DIY, kitchens, floors (4.7% vs 3.6%) contributing to growth.

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, retail sales climbed by 1.6% in July, following a revised 0.2% gain in the preceding period.