29 March 2011

2011- n° 79

In February, households consumption in manufactured goods increased (+0.9%) Household consumption expenditure on goods - February 2011

In February, households consumption in manufactured goods increased by 0.9% in volume*, after having decreased by 0.3% in January.

[* Volumes are chained and all figures are trading days and seasonally adjusted.]

Expenditure in durables picked up in February (+1.0%) after –1.7% in January. This progression is partly due to the increase in car purchases (+1.0% after -6.4% in January) which is explained by a delayed effect of numerous orders at the end of 2010.

Expenditure in household durables (+0.9% after +2.5%) also contribute to this increase.

In February, expenditure in textile increased by 4.2% after a decrease in January (-1.4%). This increase is partly imputable to sales calendar which have lasted longer in February than usual.

In February, expenditure in other manufactured goods slightly decreased (-0.3%) after +1.3% in January. This decrease is mainly imputable to books, press, stationery products and clocks and jewellery.

The growth of consumption in manufactured goods is now estimated at –0.3% (–0.5% initially announced). The variation of expenditure in durables is not revised; car purchases are revised by -0.1 point and those in household durables by +0.1 point. The change in consumption in textile expenditure is revised by +0.4 point. Expenditure in other manufactured goods are revised by +0.2 point.

These revisions are mainly due to the update of seasonal and working day adjustment. To a lesser extent, they are explained by new informations on other manufactured goods.