Household consumption almost 2 percent up in October

The CBS Consumption Radar shows that circumstances for Dutch household consumption in December are, on balance, less favourable than in October.

Consumption figures are adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

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Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)

Year	Month	Change (year-on-year % change)
2014	November	0.7
2014	December	0.6
2015	January	2
2015	February	2
2015	March	2.1
2015	April	1.7
2015	May	1.3
2015	June	2.3
2015	July	1.5
2015	August	1.4
2015	September	2.2
2015	October	1.7
2015	November	0.8
2015	December	0.8
2016	January	0.7
2016	February	0.4
2016	March	1.1
2016	April	0.4
2016	May	1.9
2016	June	0.7
2016	July	2.4
2016	August	1.5
2016	September	1.1
2016	October	2.6
2016	November	2.8
2016	December	2.5
2017	January	3.4
2017	February	1.5
2017	March	1.7
2017	April	2.6
2017	May	2.5
2017	June	2.3
2017	July	2.2
2017	August	1.9
2017	September	2.6
2017	October	1.8
2017	November	2.4
2017	December	1.3
2018	January	1.8
2018	February	3
2018	March	3.1
2018	April	3.2
2018	May	2
2018	June	2.6
2018	July	2.9
2018	August	2.3
2018	September	2.1
2018	October	1.7

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)

Year	Month	Change (year-on-year % change)
2014	November	0.7
2014	December	0.6
2015	January	2
2015	February	2
2015	March	2.1
2015	April	1.7
2015	May	1.3
2015	June	2.3
2015	July	1.5
2015	August	1.4
2015	September	2.2
2015	October	1.7
2015	November	0.8
2015	December	0.8
2016	January	0.7
2016	February	0.4
2016	March	1.1
2016	April	0.4
2016	May	1.9
2016	June	0.7
2016	July	2.4
2016	August	1.5
2016	September	1.1
2016	October	2.6
2016	November	2.8
2016	December	2.5
2017	January	3.4
2017	February	1.5
2017	March	1.7
2017	April	2.6
2017	May	2.5
2017	June	2.3
2017	July	2.2
2017	August	1.9
2017	September	2.6
2017	October	1.8
2017	November	2.4
2017	December	1.3
2018	January	1.8
2018	February	3
2018	March	3.1
2018	April	3.2
2018	May	2
2018	June	2.6
2018	July	2.9
2018	August	2.3
2018	September	2.1
2018	October	1.7

Dutch households mainly spend more on services

Consumer spending on services - accounting for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure - rose by over 2 percent in October 2018 year-on-year. These services include house rent, public transport, visits to restaurants or hairdressers and insurance premiums.

In October, consumers spent over 1 percent more on food, beverages and tobacco. Consumer spending on durable goods was up by almost 1 percent. Spending on household appliances and clothing was up in particular. However, consumers spent considerably less on cars. Consumer spending on the category ‘other goods’, such as petrol, was almost 2 percent up.

Last week, CBS reported that retail turnover was 3.3 percent up in October year-on-year. The volume of sales increased by 2.6 percent. This figure was also adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.

Consumer climate in December less favourable than in October

CBS publishes figures about circumstances for household consumption on a monthly basis in the CBS Consumption Radar. Household consumption is affected by consumers’ expectations, their personal financial situation and developments on the labour market. Although the Radar indicators show a strong correlation with household consumption, improved circumstances are not necessarily translated into increased growth.

According to the CBS Consumption Radar, circumstances for Dutch household consumption in December are less favourable than in October. The year-on-year increase in share prices turned into a decrease and manufacturers’ expectations on future employment were less positive. Consumer confidence also deteriorated.