Dutch consumers spend more on clothes and furniture

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According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) today, Dutch consumer spending on goods and services in September 2015 was 2.2 percent up from September 2014. They spent more on clothing and home furnishing. The CBS Consumption Radar shows that circumstances for Dutch household consumption are less favourable in October and November than in September, mainly because consumers were more negative about future employment and their own financial situation in the next 12 months.

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

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

Consumers spend more on clothes and home furnishing articles

In September, consumers spent 6.3 percent more on durable goods, mainly clothes, home furnishing articles, furniture, etc. than one your previously. Last week, CBS already reported that clothes shops realised robust turnover growth in September. Home furnishing shops also recorded considerable turnover growth.

Spending in the category other goods, which includes natural gas, was up by 3.2 percent. Spending on food, drinks and tobacco products rose by 1 percent.

Household spending on services - accounting for more than half of total domestic consumer spending - grew by 1.2 percent. These services include house rent, public transport, visits to restaurants or hairdressers and insurance premiums.

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

Consumer climate less favourable in October than in August

On balance, circumstances for Dutch household consumption were less favourable in November than in October and September, according to Statistics Netherlands’ Household Consumption Radar. Consumers were more negative about future employment and their own financial situation in the next 12 months. By means of six indicators, the Household Consumption Radar shows whether circumstances for Dutch consumption have become more or less favourable.

Circumstances were somewhat better in November than in October. This is mainly because, on an annual basis, share prices rose more rapidly than one month previously.

Today, Statistics Netherlands will also release information on Dutch consumer confidence in November.