Retail sales in the Netherlands increased by 3.5% year-on-year in August 2026, accelerating from a downwardly revised 2.5% increase in July and marking the strongest growth since November 2025. The acceleration was driven primarily by the non-food sector, where turnover rose (5.0% vs. 3.3% in July). Furniture and household articles recorded particularly strong growth (7.1% vs. 4.1%). Supermarket turnover also accelerated 0.4% (vs. 0.0%). Meanwhile, growth slowed in food and beverage retailers (0.9% vs. 1.0%), specialist shops (1.0% vs. 1.1%), clothing (2.5% vs. 4.2%), DIY products, kitchens and flooring (1.9% vs. 3.3%), personal care products (0.9% vs. 6.9%) and consumer electronics (0.7% vs. 5.4%). Shoes and leather products were the only category to record a decline, with turnover falling 1.1% after rising 0.8% in July.