The Netherlands’ consumer electronics shops saw combined sales fall 15% to €1.7bn last year, according to retail research group GfK.

The main reason for the slump is low consumer confidence and a fall in television sales because most households now have a flat-screen television, GfK said. Even the European football championships, which usually boost television sales, failed to have a significant effect.

In the last quarter of the year, which includes Sinterklaas and Christmas, sales were down 18%.