Revenues in the vital transport sector in the Netherlands rose by more than 5% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2017. This is the biggest increase in six years , the national statistics office CBS said on Wednesday.

With nearly 30% of transporters saying income was also higher in the  second quarter of the year, indications are good that this trend will continue, the CBS said in its quarterly monitor of the transport and logistics industry.

The first-quarter gain was on a broad front, led by couriers and removals companies, both of which posted revenues 13% higher than in the 2016 period. Removals companies benefited from the boom in the housing sector.

The CBS reported last week that the number of people moving house in the first quarter was higher than in the same period last year. Higher revenues for delivery services and couriers reflected increased online sales.