Retail sales rise for first time since 2008

Typical architecture in Amsterdam, NetherlandsDutch shops booked a 1% increase in turnover last year, the first increase in retail sales since 2008, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday.

The final quarter of the year showed the best results, with a rise of 3%. In particular, non-food shops, such as consumer electronics retailers, diy suppliers and high-street chemists performed well, the CBS said.

Clothing stores and shops selling household equipment saw a slight drop in turnover but the downturn was not as strong as in previous years.

At the same time, mail order and online retailers saw their turnover grow by 10%, compared with 2013. In December the rise was 15%, the CBS said.

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