Modest household consumption growth

In April 2010, household spending on goods and services was 0.2 percent up on April 2009. The growth was more modest than in March, when households spent 0.7 percent more than one year previously. In April, household spending on goods and services rose by 0.2 percent and 0.1 percent respectively. Consumption figures have been adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

Consumption of food, drinks and tobacco was marginally higher in April 2010 than one year previously.

In April 2010, spending on durable consumer goods was 1.5 percent down on April 2009, whereas in March, consumption of durable goods was nearly 5 percent higher than one year previously. The change from growth to decline was mainly due to car sales: the increase in car sales was less substantial than in March. Furthermore, spending on shoes and clothes was considerably down on April 2009, whereas in March, spending on these products was much higher than one year previously.

Due to the cooler weather, households consumed considerably more natural gas than one year previously. Motor fuel consumption, on the other hand, was substantially down on April 2009.

Domestic household consumption (volume)