Household consumption up in July

In July 2005 households consumed more than in July 2004. The volume of domestic consumption was up by 0.5 percent on the same month last year. The figures are corrected for price changes and differences in shopping day patterns. Despite the slight increases in June and July, the volume of consumption in the first seven months of this year is still smaller than during the same period last year.

The slight increase  in consumption in July was due to higher spendings on food, beverages and tobacco by 2.5 percent and services by 0.4 percent. In July 2005 the volume of expenditure on durable goods almost equaled the July 2004 level. Starting mid 2004 the consumption of durable goods has continiously been lower than in the same period of the year before. 

During the first seven months of 2005, the volume of domestic consumption was 0.8 percent smaller than in the same period of the previous year. Consumers spent 1.8 percent less on goods and slightly more on services than in the first seven months of 2004.

Domestic household consumption (volume)