Robust growth consumption

Household spending on goods and services was 2.9 percent up in September compared to one year previously. Households spent 4.0 percent more on goods and 1.9 percent more on services. Figures are adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping day pattern.

Households spent 7.5 percent more on durable consumer goods, notably household appliances, a substantial increase on one year previously. Spending on household appliances has risen throughout the year. Clothes and shoes also sold well, after sales dipped in August.

Domestic consumption grew by a marginal 1.4 percent in the first six months of this year. This is mainly due to the mild weather conditions, which reduced natural gas consumption in the first half of 2007. Domestic household consumption rose to 2.9 percent in the third quarter, when natural gas consumption picked up again and consumption growth approached last year’s level.

Domestic household consumption (volume)