Household consumption in decline

Household spending on goods and services in October 2011 was 1.4 percent down on October 2010. The decline is less substantial than in September (1.9 percent). Consumption figures are adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

In October 2011, spending on goods was 3.4 percent below the October 2010 level. Consumer spending on durable goods was 4.7 percent down. Consumers spent less on clothing and cars. Spending on home furnishing articles and consumer electronics was also lower. Furthermore, due to the mild weather conditions, the consumption of natural gas dropped considerably. Spending on food, drinks and tobacco remained stable. 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 December, these conditions deteriorated somewhat further.

Conditions for household consumption are much more favourable in Germany than in the Netherlands. This is reflected in the household consumption figures. Dutch household consumption shrank in the third quarter of 2011, whereas German household consumption grew. More information can be found in the article Germans spending more, Dutch spending less.

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

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.