Household spending 6.5 percent down in November

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

' 16	December	1.6
2017	January	3.3
2017	February	2.6
2017	March	2.2
2017	April	2.8
2017	May	3
2017	June	2.7
2017	July	2.5
2017	August	2.3
2017	September	3.3
2017	October	1
2017	November	2.6
2017	December	1.7
2018	January	1.7
2018	February	3.2
2018	March	3
2018	April	3.2
2018	May	2
2018	June	2.6
2018	July	2.8
2018	August	2.6
2018	September	2
2018	October	2.1
2018	November	2.2
2018	December	1.7
2019	January	1.3
2019	February	0.9
2019	March	1.4
2019	April	1.5
2019	May	2.5
2019	June	1.4
2019	July	1.1
2019	August	1.1
2019	September	2
2019	October	2
2019	November	1.7
2019	December	3.1
2020	January	0.9
2020	February	1.2
2020	March	-6.4
2020	April	-17.1
2020	May	-12.1
2020	June	-7.1
2020	July	-2.7
2020	August	-2.3
2020	September	-4
2020	October	-6.8
2020	November	-6.5

In November, consumers spent 14.1 percent less on services, such as visits to restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas, museums and football matches, than one year previously. The contraction was more substantial than in October. Restaurants and bars were closed for the whole month of November. Amusement parks, cinemas, theatres, zoos, museums, libraries and swimming pools had to close as of 4 November. Spending on services accounts for over half of total domestic consumer expenditure.

Consumer spending on durable goods increased by 6.0 percent. Households mainly spent more on electrical appliances and home furnishings compared to November 2019.Spending on transport equipment, clothing and footwear, on the other hand, was lower than one previously. Consumer spending on food, beverages and tobacco was 4.9 percentup year-on-year. Spending on other goods such as natural gas, electricity and motor fuels was 2.9 percent down. Consumers purchased substantially less fuel. Furthermore, natural gas consumption for heating was lower than in November 2019as a result of milder temperatures.

Three weeks ago, CBS reported a year-on-year increase in retail trade turnover of 9.6 percentin November 2020. The volume of sales increased by 8.4 percent. Turnover was up in both the food and the non-food sector. These figures have been adjusted for the shopping-day pattern as well.

Durable goods	6
Food, drinks and tobacco	4.9
Other goods (e.g. gas)	-2.9
Services	-14.1
Total	-6.5