Household consumption slightly up in December

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© Hollandse Hoogte / Richard Brocken
According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), households spent 0.3 percent more in December 2023 year on year, adjusted for price changes. They spent more on services than on goods.

These are volume figures, i.e. figures adjusted for price changes. In addition, they have been adjusted for differences in the shopping-day pattern. The CBS Consumption Radar shows that circumstances for Dutch household consumption in January were, on balance, less unfavourable than in December.

Year MonthChange (year-on-year % change)
2020January0.4
2020February2.6
2020March-7.4
2020April-17.6
2020May-11.8
2020June-6.9
2020July-3.6
2020August-0.5
2020September-3.9
2020October-4.5
2020November-7.1
2020December-11
2021January-11.7
2021February-11
2021March0.4
2021April12.8
2021May11.9
2021June8.1
2021July3.4
2021August4.1
2021September5.5
2021October9.4
2021November9.7
2021December5.3
2023January12.5
2023February14.7
2023March12.3
2023April10.9
2023May6.2
2023June5.3
2023July3.6
2023August2
2023September2
2023October0.9
2023November2.4
2023December9.5
2023January5.4
2023February2.6
2023March1.6
2023April-0.4
2023May0.1
2023June0.8
2023July-0.7
2023August-0.1
2023September-1.7
2023October0.5
2023November0.6
2023December0.3

More services, durable goods, food, beverages and tobacco

In December, consumers spent 0.8 percent more on services relative to one year previously (adjusted for price changes). These services include recreation, culture, public transport, communication or hairdressers. Spending on services makes up over half of total domestic household consumption expenditure.

Adjusted for price changes, households spent 0.6 percent more on food, beverages and tobacco. They also bought 1.5 percent more durable goods, such as clothes, than they did in December 2022. However, households spent 3.9 percent less on other goods, such as energy and motor fuels.

Two weeks ago, CBS reported that retail sales volume in December was up by 1.7 percent relative to one year previously. Sales volume increased by 1.2 percent in the non-food sector and by 0.4 percent in the food sector. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.

 Change (year-on-year % change)
Durable goods1.5
Services0.8
Food, drinks and tobacco0.6
Other goods (e.g. gas)-3.9
Total0.3

Consumer climate less unfavourable in January

Every month, CBS publishes figures about circumstances for household consumption in the CBS Consumption Radar. Household consumption is influenced by factors such as consumers’ expectations, their personal financial situation and labour market conditions. Although the Radar indicators show a strong correlation with household consumption, improved circumstances do not necessarily translate into a higher increase in consumption.

According to the CBS Consumption Radar, conditions for Dutch household consumption in January were less unfavourable than they were in December. This is mainly because the year-on-year increase of the share prices was larger and the year-on-year decline of owner-occupied dwellings turned into an increase.

Sources

Related items