Household consumption almost 6 percent up in August

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

Consumers spent more on services and durable goods

Consumers spent 9.7 percent more on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurance, visits to hairdressers, restaurants, and football games than in August 2020. In August 2021, consumption of services was almost 1 percent higher than in August 2019. In general, spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Consumers spent 3.6 percent more on durable goods in August 2021 compared to the same month last year. Spending on clothes and shoes was up in particular, while spending on passenger cars decreased. Consumption of other goods, such as natural gas, electricity and motor fuels, was 0.8 percent up year-on-year. Consumers spent 2.9 percent less on food, beverages and tobacco than in August 2020.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of 3.0 percent in August 2021. The volume of sales went up by 1.9 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector grew by 6.3 percent relative to the same month last year, while turnover in the food sector shrank by 3.8 percent. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.