Monthly retail revenue index in the Netherlands 2017-2020, by category

The traditional monthly development of retail turnover in the Netherlands was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Starting in February 2020, some categories such as supermarkets and DIY stores experienced extraordinary increases in sales, whereas the clothing industry suffered a dip in revenue. Before the coronavirus outbreak, the monthly revenue of retail in the Netherlands showed a similar pattern each year. Overall, all retail categories enjoyed an increase in turnover in December of each year. Furthermore, DIY stores tended to have much higher sales in the spring than in the fall or winter, whereas supermarket revenues remained relatively stable throughout the years.