Household spending down 2.0 percent

Household spending on goods and services was 2.0 percent down in August 2013 from August 2012. The decrease was the same as in July. Consumer spending has been in continuous decline for over two years now. Consumption figures have been adjusted for price changes and differences in the shopping-day pattern.

Household spending on durable goods fell by 6.1 percent. The decrease was slightly smaller than in July (7.0 percent). Spending on furniture, home decoration and household appliances fell by less than in July. Spending on food, drinks and tobacco decreased by 2.1 percent, slightly more than in July. Household spending on services was 0.5 percent lower.

With the aid of six indicators, the Household Consumption Radar shows whether circumstances for Dutch household consumption have become more or less favourable. For October, the radar shows that circumstances for consumption were  more favourable than in September.

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

More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.

For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.