Household consumption over 9 percent up in April

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

Consumers spent more on both goods and services

In April 2021, consumers spent 17.3 percent more on durable goods than in April 2020. Spending on clothing, footwear and passenger cars was up in particular.

Consumers spent 3.4 percent more on food, beverages and tobacco than one year previously. Consumption of other goods, such as natural gas, electricity and motor fuels, was 19.5 percent up. Due to considerably lower temperatures, households consumed substantially more natural gas. Spending on motor fuels was also higher.

In April 2021, consumers spent 6.7 percent more on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurance, visits to hairdressers, restaurants and football games than in April 2020. This is the first growth in consumption of services since March 2020. In general, spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of 9.6 percent in April 2021. Turnover was up in both the food and the non-food sector. Online turnover was higher as well. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.