Household consumption 8.5 percent up in October

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

Consumers spent more on services

Consumers spent 12.2 percent more on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurance, visits to hairdressers, restaurants, and football games than in October 2020. Compared to October 2019, consumption of services was still 0.8 percent lower. In general, spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Consumers spent 8.1 percent more on durable goods in October 2021 compared to the same month last year. Spending on clothes and footwear was up in particular, while spending on passenger cars and home furnishing decreased.

Consumption of other goods, such as natural gas, electricity, motor fuels and personal care, was 3.4 percent up year-on-year. While consumers used less energy and water, they spent more on personal care and motor fuels. Spending on food, beverages and tobacco was 0.3 percent down from October 2020.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of nearly 7 percent in October 2021. The volume of sales went up by 4.8 percent. The volume in the non-food sector grew by 12.7 percent relative to the same month last year, while turnover volume in the food sector shrank by 1.8 percent. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.