Household consumption further in decline

Household spending on goods and services in September 2011 was 2.0 percent down on September 2010. In August this year, household spending was 1.0 percent down on one year previously. Consumption figures are adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

In September 2011, spending on goods was 4.9 percent below the September 2010 level. Consumer spending on durable goods was 8.5 percent down on September last year. A decline of this magnitude has not occurred in the past two years. Consumers spent far less on clothing, shoes and cars. Spending on home furnishing articles and consumer electronics was also lower. Spending on food, drinks and tobacco dropped by 0.3 percent. Due to the mild weather conditions, the consumption of natural gas dropped considerably. Spending on services improved 0.4 percent relative to the same month last year.

The Household Consumption Radar shows the conditions for household consumption. In November, these conditions showed improvements as well as deteriorations after a serious downturn in the period August-October

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

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.