Household consumption 0.4 percent down in March

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

Consumers spent less on services, but more on durable goods

In March 2021, consumers spent 3.0 percent less on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurance, visits to hairdressers, restaurants, and football games than in March 2020. The decline was much smaller than in February (16.9 percent). In general, spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Spending on durable goods increased by 6.9 percent in March 2021 year-on-year. Consumers spent more on clothing, footwear and electrical appliances in particular. In February, spending on durable goods still contracted by 16.7 percent. The switch from decline to growth can partly be attributed to substantially lower spending in March 2020. In addition, shops were allowed to receive customers by appointment as of 3 March 2021. In March 2021, spending on durable goods was approximately the same as in March 2019.

Consumer spending on food, beverages and tobacco was 0.6 percent lower than in March 2020, when consumers hoarded a lot of food. Spending on other goods, such as natural gas, electricity and motor fuels, was 0.9 percent up. Energy consumption was higher than in March 2020 as a result of slightly lower temperatures.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of 5.9 percent in March 2021. Whereas the non-food sector recorded a small turnover increase, the food sector achieved lower turnover. Online turnover was 68.3 percent higher than in March 2020. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.