Household spending 6.5 percent down in October

21/12/2020 15:00

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.

According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), consumers spent 6.5 percent less in October 2020 than in the same month last year. The decline is again somewhat larger than in September. Just as in the previous months, consumers spent mainly less on services.

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

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)
Year	Month	Change (year-on-year % change)
2016	November	2.4
2016	December	1.6
2017	January	3.3
2017	February	2.6
2017	March	2.2
2017	April	2.8
2017	May	3
2017	June	2.7
2017	July	2.5
2017	August	2.3
2017	September	3.3
2017	October	1
2017	November	2.6
2017	December	1.7
2018	January	1.7
2018	February	3.2
2018	March	3
2018	April	3.2
2018	May	2
2018	June	2.6
2018	July	2.8
2018	August	2.6
2018	September	2
2018	October	2.1
2018	November	2.2
2018	December	1.7
2019	January	1.3
2019	February	0.9
2019	March	1.4
2019	April	1.5
2019	May	2.5
2019	June	1.4
2019	July	1.1
2019	August	1.1
2019	September	2
2019	October	2
2019	November	1.7
2019	December	3.1
2020	January	0.9
2020	February	1.2
2020	March	-6.4
2020	April	-17.1
2020	May	-12.1
2020	June	-7.1
2020	July	-2.7
2020	August	-2.3
2020	September	-4
2020	October	-6.5

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)
Year	Month	Change (year-on-year % change)
2016	November	2.4
2016	December	1.6
2017	January	3.3
2017	February	2.6
2017	March	2.2
2017	April	2.8
2017	May	3
2017	June	2.7
2017	July	2.5
2017	August	2.3
2017	September	3.3
2017	October	1
2017	November	2.6
2017	December	1.7
2018	January	1.7
2018	February	3.2
2018	March	3
2018	April	3.2
2018	May	2
2018	June	2.6
2018	July	2.8
2018	August	2.6
2018	September	2
2018	October	2.1
2018	November	2.2
2018	December	1.7
2019	January	1.3
2019	February	0.9
2019	March	1.4
2019	April	1.5
2019	May	2.5
2019	June	1.4
2019	July	1.1
2019	August	1.1
2019	September	2
2019	October	2
2019	November	1.7
2019	December	3.1
2020	January	0.9
2020	February	1.2
2020	March	-6.4
2020	April	-17.1
2020	May	-12.1
2020	June	-7.1
2020	July	-2.7
2020	August	-2.3
2020	September	-4
2020	October	-6.5

Lower spending on services

In October, consumers spent 11.8 percent less on services than in the same month last year. This mainly applied to e.g. restaurants, theatres, amusement parks, fitness centres and soccer matches as well as public transportation. Restaurants and cafés had to close their doors again from 15 October.

Consumer spending on durable goods increased by 1.1 percent. They mainly spent more on electrical appliances and home furnishings compared to October 2019. Consumer spending on food, beverages and tobacco was 2.8 percent up year-on-year. Spending on other goods, such as natural gas and motor fuels, was 2.4 percent down. Consumers mainly refueled less.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported a year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of 7.1 percent in October 2020. The volume of sales increased by 4.7 percent. Turnover was up in both the food sector and the non-food sector. These figures were adjusted for the shopping-day pattern as well.

Domestic household consumption by category (volume, adjusted for shopping days), October 2020
	Change (year-on-year % change)
Food, drinks and tobacco	2.8
Durable goods	1.1
Other goods (e.g. gas)	-2.4
Services	-11.8

Total	-6.5

Domestic household consumption by category (volume, adjusted for shopping days), October 2020
	Change (year-on-year % change)
Food, drinks and tobacco	2.8
Durable goods	1.1
Other goods (e.g. gas)	-2.4
Services	-11.8

Total	-6.5

The figures presented in this news release are provisional and subject for revision.

Sources

StatLine - Consumption expenditure of households

Lower spending on services

Sources

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