Dutch Fashion Retail: Inflation Eases as Online Sales Grow

Dutch Inflation and Fashion Prices in August

Dutch headline inflation on the national consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3.3 percent year-on-year in August 2026, up slightly from 3.2 percent in July, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase was driven mainly by prices for goods and services Dutch consumers buy abroad, which were 7.4 percent higher than a year earlier. Within the national CPI basket, clothing and footwear prices rose 1.1 percent year-on-year, up from 0.2 percent in July but still well below the overall inflation rate.

Detailed Price Movements

According to CBS, clothing prices within the national CPI increased by 1.5 percent year-on-year, while footwear prices fell by 0.7 percent. Among clothing categories, womenswear prices rose 2.0 percent and menswear fell 0.3 percent. Garments for infants under two years saw a significant increase of 4.9 percent, and other articles of clothing and accessories rose 4.3 percent. Footwear prices have been lower than a year earlier in every month of 2026, though August’s decline was the smallest so far this year.

On the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which CBS compiles using EU-wide methodology for cross-country comparison, headline inflation eased to 2.8 percent in August from 3.0 percent in July. Clothing and footwear prices on the HICP rose 1.2 percent year-on-year.

Retail Sales: Clothing Stores Lag Behind Overall Retail

Preliminary CBS figures adjusted for the number of shopping days show that clothing store turnover rose 2.5 percent year-on-year in August, while sales volume increased by just 0.5 percent. In contrast, shoe and leather goods stores were the only store type to see lower turnover than a year earlier, with turnover down 1.1 percent and volume down 1.0 percent. Online turnover at clothing and fashion retailers was up 6.1 percent year-on-year.

Overall retail turnover excluding cars and petrol stations rose 3.5 percent year-on-year, with volume up 2.7 percent—the largest turnover increase since November 2025, according to CBS. Non-store retail, which includes online sales, grew 6.7 percent in turnover and 5.3 percent in volume on the same preliminary basis. This means clothing stores grew more slowly than the retail sector as a whole in both turnover and volume.

Consumer Confidence and Economic Context

Consumer confidence held steady at minus 33 in August, unchanged from July, according to CBS. The economic climate component improved slightly to minus 56 from minus 57, while willingness to buy edged down to minus 19 from minus 18. The balance of consumers who consider it a good time to make large purchases improved to minus 35 from minus 37.

The Dutch unemployment rate stood at 4.0 percent in August, unchanged from July, according to the European Union statistics office Eurostat. CBS counted a preliminary 334 bankruptcies across all sectors of the economy in August, adjusted for court session days, compared with 295 in July and 339 in August 2025.

Monetary Policy and Currency Effects

The European Central Bank (ECB) left the deposit facility rate unchanged at 2.25 percent in August. The euro strengthened 1.54 percent against the US dollar during the month, with a monthly average of 1.1593 dollars versus 1.1417 dollars in July, according to the ECB. Compared with August 2025, the euro was 0.33 percent weaker against the dollar—a marginal change in the cost of dollar-invoiced sourcing for retailers and importers.

What This Means for Fashion Retailers and Consumers

Dutch clothing and footwear prices rose 1.1 percent year-on-year on the national CPI in August, remaining below the headline inflation rate of 3.3 percent. Preliminary CBS data show clothing stores growing turnover by 2.5 percent and volume by 0.5 percent, trailing the overall retail sector. Online fashion turnover rose 6.1 percent, while shoe and leather goods stores were the only store type to contract. Consumer confidence held at minus 33, with willingness to buy edging down slightly.

The combination of moderate price increases in fashion, robust online sales, and cautious consumer sentiment suggests a mixed picture. While overall retail turnover saw its largest increase since November 2025, clothing stores are not keeping pace. Shoe and leather goods stores continue to struggle, with declining turnover and volume. The strong euro against the dollar may offer some relief on import costs, but the marginal year-on-year depreciation means the effect is limited. As inflation remains above target, consumers may remain hesitant to spend on non-essential items, putting further pressure on traditional brick-and-mortar fashion retailers.

Note: This article combines the most recent official data available at the time of writing. Reporting lags differ by indicator and country, so not all figures refer to the same month. Each data point is labelled with its reference period.