Household consumption 0.5 percent up in August

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.
© CBS / Alrik Swagerman
According to figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), households spent 0.5 percent more in August 2023 year on year, adjusted for price changes. They again bought more services, but fewer goods.

These are volume figures, i.e. figures adjusted for price changes. In addition, they have been adjusted for differences in the shopping-day pattern. The CBS Consumption Radar shows that circumstances for Dutch household consumption in September were, on balance, less unfavourable than in August.

Domestic household consumption (volume, adjusted for shopping days)
Year MonthChange (year-on-year % change)
2019September1.3
2019October1.4
2019November1.2
2019December2.4
2020January0.4
2020February2.6
2020March-7.4
2020April-17.6
2020May-11.8
2020June-6.9
2020July-3.6
2020August-0.5
2020September-3.9
2020October-4.5
2020November-7.1
2020December-11
2021January-11.7
2021February-11
2021March0.4
2021April12.8
2021May11.9
2021June8.1
2021July3.4
2021August4.1
2021September5.5
2021October9.4
2021November9.7
2021December5.3
2022January12.5
2022February14.7
2022March12.3
2022April10.9
2022May6.2
2022June5.3
2022July3.6
2022August2
2022September2
2022October0.9
2022November2.4
2022December9.5
2023January5.4
2023February2.6
2023March1.6
2023April-0.2
2023May0.5
2023June1.2
2023July0.1
2023August0.5

Households buy more services

In August, consumers spent 1.8 percent more on services compared to the same month last year (adjusted for price changes). These services include insurances, public transport and visits to restaurants, events or hairdressers. Spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Adjusted for price changes, households spent 3.7 percent less on food, beverages and tobacco. They also bought 0.8 percent fewer durable goods than in August 2022. Spending on home furnishing, clothing and electrical appliances was down in particular. However, spending on passenger cars was up. Households bought 1.1 percent more other goods such as energy and personal care products in August.

One week ago, CBS reported that the volume of sales in retail trade in August was 2.1 percent lower than one year previously. The volume of sales decreased by 2.5 percent in the non-food sector and by 3.2 percent in the food sector. These figures have also been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern.

Domestic household consumption by category (volume, adjusted for shopping days), August 2023
 Change (year-on-year % change)
Services1.8
Other goods (e.g. gas)1.1
Durable goods-0.8
Food, drinks and tobacco-3.7
Total0.5

Consumer climate less unfavourable in September

Every month, CBS publishes figures about circumstances for household consumption in the CBS Consumption Radar. Household consumption is influenced by factors such as consumers’ expectations, their personal financial situation and developments on the labour market. Although the Radar indicators show a strong correlation with household consumption, improved circumstances do not necessarily translate into a higher increase in consumption.

 According to the CBS Consumption Radar, circumstances for Dutch household consumption in September were less unfavourable than in August. This is mainly because consumers were less negative about future unemployment. In addition, the year-on-year growth of the employed labour force was larger and the year-on-year decrease in prices of owner-occupied dwellings was smaller.

Sources

Related items