Consumption up in October

Dutch household consumption was 1.2 percent up October 2005 on October 2004.

Spending on durable consumer goods increased considerably, de growth rate was 4.0 percent up on October last year. The figures have been corrected for price changes and differences in shopping day pattern.

Among durable goods, consumer electronics, clothing and shoes were particularly popular. Car sales, on the other hand, were in decline. Consumer spending on food, drinks and tobacco was 2.4 percent above the level of October 2004. This is the highest volume growth rate since February 2003. With 2.3 percent, September’s rate was also high.

The volume of domestic consumer expenditure was up by 1.1 percent in the third quarter of 2005. After correction for the difference in the composition of shopping days, the growth rate in October almost equalled this. In the first half of 2005 the households spent less than in the first six months of 2004. In the first 10 months of 2005 the level of domestic consumer spending almost equalled the level in the same period of 2004.

In the year 2004 households spent 238 billion euro. Expenditure on services had a share of 54 percent in this amount. The rest was divided among expenditure on food (14 percent), durable goods (19 percent) and other goods (13 percent).

The monthly data on consumer spending published earlier have been revised. They have been adjusted to the revised National Accounts 2001-2004 and the corresponding Quarterly Accounts up to the third quarter of 2005.

Domestic household consumption (volume)