31 October 2017

2017- n° 291

Household consumption expenditure on goods bounced back in September (+0.9%) and increased again over the third quarter (+0.7%) Household consumption expenditure on goods - September 2017

In September 2017, household consumption expenditure on goods increased by 0.9% in volume*, after falling by 0.2% in August. Expenses on energy accelerated while food products' purchases bounced back. Over the whole third quarter, expenses on goods accelerated slightly (+0.7% after +0.6%), driven by expenditure on energy, clothing and household durables.

In September 2017, energy consumption accelerated (+3.3% after +0.4%). Fuels purchases increased sharply (+5.1%), as well as heating expenses, as a result of lower temperatures than the seasonal norm. Over the quarter, expenses on energy also accelerated (+1.6% after +0.5%).

In September 2017, food products purchases bounced back after a strong fall in August (+0.8% after −1.1%). This change was notably due to a recovery in meat and transformed products (canned food, condiments, etc.) consumption. Over the whole quarter, food products expenses stepped back (−0.5%) after two quarters of rise.

In September 2017, purchases of engineered goods were virtually stable. However, they remained dynamic over the whole quarter (+1.3% after +0.5%), especially regarding household durables and textile-clothing. In 2017, the sale season started a little bit later than in the previous years, which presumably bolstered the consumption in Q3.

In September, purchases of durables increased marginally (+0.2%): the rebound in household durables compensated the decline in transport equipment. Over the whole quarter, expenses on durables accelerated (+1.5% after +1.1%), partly due to audiovisual equipments purchases.

In September, expenses on textile-clothing increased for the third consecutive month. Purchases of clothing and shoes increased, while textile expenditure declined. Over the whole quarter, expenses recovered (+1.8% after two slightly declining quarters).

In September, expenses on “other engineered goods” decreased (−0.5%) after four consecutive months of growth. This is mainly due to the decline in beauty products and perfume's purchases. Over the whole quarter, expenses bounced back (+0.7% after −0.1%).

Compared to the previous estimate, the variation in household expenditure on goods in August 2017 is slightly revised upwards: −0.2% instead of −0.3%. Since the previous publication, new information has been integrated and the seasonal adjustment coefficients have been updated.