Dutch retail sales make biggest jump in 11 years, boosted by online

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Retail sales in the Netherlands increased by 4.2% year-on-year in 2017, the biggest gain in 11 years, the national statistics office CBS said on Tuesday.

Online retailers saw sales rise by 19.5%, while retail groups with both online and high street operations booked 22% growth, the CBS said. The figures are corrected to take differences in the number of shop opening days into account.

The 4.2% increase in sales is far higher than the 1.5% gain posted in 2016. The largest sales hikes were seen in the DIY, kitchen, floor, furniture and household articles sectors.

Increases were also registered by drug stores, shoe shops, leather goods and clothing stores but consumer electronics and recreation retailers saw a slight decline.

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