Household consumption 8.7 percent up in November

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

Consumers spending more on services

In November, adjusted for price changes, consumers spent 14.2 percent more on services such as telephone and internet subscriptions, insurances, visits to hairdressers, restaurants or football matches relative to November 2020. That was when restaurants and bars were closed for a whole month. Amusement parks, cinemas, theatres, zoos, museums, libraries and swimming pools as well had to stay closed for almost the whole month of November 2020. Nevertheless, consumption of services was still over 2 percent lower than in November 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 November 2021 year-on-year. Spending on clothes and footwear was up in particular; spending on food, beverages and tobacco was virtually the same as in November 2020.

Consumption of other goods, such as natural gas, electricity, motor fuels and personal care, was 3.7 percent up year-on-year. Consumers used more energy and water and spent more on personal care. November 2021 was colder than November 2020.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported year-on-year turnover growth in retail trade of over 5 percent for November 2021. The volume of sales went up by 2.6 percent. Turnover in the non-food sector grew by 7.4 percent relative to the same month last year, while turnover in the food sector remained unchanged. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.