Household consumption 8.7 percent up in November

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According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), consumers spent 8.7 percent more in November 2021 than one year previously. They mainly spent more on services. Compared to November 2019, consumers spent 1.6 percent more in November 2021.

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

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)
Year MonthChange (year-on-year % change)
December1.7
2018January1.9
2018February3.1
2018March3
2018April3.2
2018May2.2
2018June2.5
2018July2.7
2018August2.6
2018September2
2018October2.1
2018November2.2
2018December1.7
2019January0.8
2019February0.5
2019March1
2019April1
2019May1.8
2019June1
2019July0.5
2019August0.5
2019September1.3
2019October1.4
2019November1.2
2019December2.4
2020January0.8
2020February1.9
2020March-7.5
2020April-17.4
2020May-12.3
2020June-7.3
2020July-2.6
2020August-2.2
2020September-3.9
2020October-6.1
2020November-6.5
2020December-11.7
2021January-12.6
2021February-11.7
2021March-0.3
2021April11.9
2021May11.0
2021June6.7
2021July2.5
2021August3.4
2021September4.6
2021October8.4
2021November8.7

Consumers spending more on services

In November, adjusted for price changes, consumers spent 14.2 percent more on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurances, visits to hairdressers, restaurants or football matches relative to November 2020. That was when restaurants and bars were closed for a whole month. Amusement parks, cinemas, theatres, zoos, museums, libraries and swimming pools as well had to stay closed for almost the whole month of November 2020. Nevertheless, consumption of services was still over 2 percent lower than in November 2019. In general, spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Consumers spent 3.6 percent more on durable goods in November 2021 year-on-year. Spending on clothes and footwear was up in particular; spending on food, beverages and tobacco was virtually the same as in November 2020.

Consumption of other goods, such as natural gas, electricity, motor fuels and personal care, was 3.7 percent up year-on-year. Consumers used more energy and water and spent more on personal care. November 2021 was colder than November 2020.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of over 5 percent for November 2021. The volume of sales went up by 2.6 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector grew by 7.4 percent relative to the same month last year, while turnover in the food sector remained unchanged. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.

Domestic household consumption by category (volume, adjusted for shopping days), November 2021
 Change (year-on-year % change)
Services14.2
Other goods (e.g. gas)3.7
Durable goods3.6
Food, drinks and tobacco0.1
Total8.7

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