Retail

Published by:

Statistics Netherlands, CBS

Are you looking for statistical information on the retail sector?

On this page, you will find the key figures and trends. The retail sector includes clothing stores, supermarkets, and gas stations, among others.

Key figures

176 290

businesses

3.1

per cent turnover growth

43 200

job vacancies

Number of businesses

Source: CBS CC BY 4.0

At the start of the third quarter of 2026, there were 176,290 retail businesses in the Netherlands. That is 25 fewer than in the previous quarter.

Turnover

Source: CBS CC BY 4.0

In the second quarter of 2026, retail businesses reported a 3.1% increase in sales compared with the same period a year earlier.

Vacancies and wages

Job vacancies

Source: CBS CC BY 4.0

In the second quarter of 2026, there were 43,200 job openings in the retail sector. That is more than in the previous quarter. At that time, there were 39,700 job openings in the industry.

Development of CAO wages

Source: CBS CC BY 4.0

In the second quarter of 2026, collective bargaining agreement wages in the retail sector rose by 4.7% compared with the same period a year earlier. In the previous quarter, the wage increase was 4.8%.

Business confidence

Source: CBS CC BY 4.0

At the beginning of the third quarter of 2026, business confidence in the retail sector stood at -1.1. This is higher than in the previous quarter, when confidence stood at -11.8. Retail business owners were more positive than the average business owner.

Topics

Regulations

Retail

Key figures

Number of businesses

Number of businesses

Number of businesses

Turnover

Turnover

Turnover

Vacancies and wages

Job vacancies

Job vacancies

Development of CAO wages

Development of CAO wages

Business confidence

Business confidence

Business confidence

See also