Household consumption 1.6 percent up

In August 2010, household spending on goods and services was 1.6 percent up on August 2009. For the sixth consecutive month, consumption was higher than in the same month last year. Consumption figures have been adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

Higher spending on goods and services contributed to August’s consumption growth. Household spending on goods and services grew by 2.8 and 0.7 percent respectively relative to August last year.

Households spent 7.4 percent more on durable consumer goods, the most substantial increase in more than two years. The increase was largely due to a robust growth in consumer spending on electronics, cars and clothes, whereas spending on food, drinks and tobacco was 0.5 percent down on one year previously.

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping-days)