28 February 2018
2018- n° 55Household consumption expenditure on goods declined again in January 2018 (−1.9%) Household consumption expenditure on goods - January 2018
In January 2018, households expenditure on goods declined in volume* after a month of December already declining (−1.9% after −1.2%). This decrease was mainly due to the drop in energy consumption, related to an exceptionnally mild month of January. Transport equipment purchases diminished also. Only household durables expenses tended to increase.
In January 2018, households expenditure on goods declined in volume* after a month of December already declining (−1.9% after −1.2%). This decrease was mainly due to the drop in energy consumption, related to an exceptionnally mild month of January. Transport equipment purchases diminished also. Only household durables expenses tended to increase.
*Volumes are measured at chain-link previous year prices (2010 euro billions) and all figures are trading-day and seasonally adjusted.
graphiqueGraph1 – Total consumption of goods

- Source: INSEE
Energy: strong decline
In January 2018, energy consumption decreased strongly (−7.6%): heating expenses were particularly low, given that January 2018 was the mildest month of January since 1900. Refined products consumption diminished also, for all types of fuel (gasoline, diesel, heating oil, butane, propane).
graphiqueGraph2 – Breakdown of energy

- Source: INSEE
Engineered goods: falling again
In January 2018, expenses on engineered goods fell for the second consecutive month, however to a lesser extent than in December (−0.8% after −1.5%).
Durables: declining again
In January, consumption of durables decreased again (−1.1% after −1.7%). Purchases of transport equipment decreased very sharply (−3.0%), in particular purchases of new and second-hand cars; but also the ones of motocycles and recreational vehicles.
However, expenses on household durables bounced back slightly (+1,7% after −6.8%), as for instance purchases of audiovisual, electronic and telephonic devices.
Textile-clothing: further decline
In January, expenses on textile-clothing decreased again (−1.3% after −2.2%). Notably, expenses on clothes decreased for the second consecutive month.
Other engineered goods: almost stable
In January, expenses on “other engineered goods” were virtually stable (+0.1% after −0.4%).
graphiqueGraph3 – Breakdown of engineered goods

- Source: INSEE
Food products: decreasing again
In January 2018, food consumption kept decreasing (−0.6% after −1.5%), in unprocessed products (fruits, vegetables) as well as in agrifood products (meat, milk) and drinks. However, tobbacco consumption was on the rise, after two months of decline.
graphiqueGraph4 – Food products, engineered goods and energy

- Source: INSEE
The variation in December 2017 is unchanged
Compared to the previous estimation, new information has been integrated, and the seasonal adjustment coefficients have been updated, without revising the change of December 2017(−1.2%).
tableauTable – Household consumption expenditure on goods
Weight (1) | Nov. 2017 | Dec. 2017 | Jan. 2018 | Jan. 18 / Jan. 17 | Q / Q-1 (2) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food products | 38 | –0.2 | 1.4 | –1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
- excl. Tobacco | 35 | –0.3 | 1.7 | –1.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
Engineered goods | 44 | –1.5 | 2.6 | –1.4 | 1.3 | –0.1 |
- Durables | 22 | –0.4 | 2.4 | –2.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 |
Including : | ||||||
- Transport equipment | 12 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
- Household durables | 7 | –2.5 | 6.8 | –6.5 | 3.8 | 0.1 |
- Textile-clothing | 9 | –6.3 | 6.4 | –1.9 | 0.2 | –2.1 |
- Other engineered goods | 13 | –0.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 |
Energy | 18 | –7.8 | 8.1 | –0.4 | 1.7 | –0.9 |
- Energy, water, waste | 10 | –7.5 | 11.1 | –3.1 | –0.2 | –0.5 |
- Refined Products | 8 | –8.2 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 4.4 | –1.4 |
Total | 100 | –2.1 | 3.0 | –1.2 | 1.0 | –0.1 |
- Including Manufactured goods | 84 | –1.5 | 2.2 | –1.0 | 1.3 | 0.1 |
- (1) Weighting in the consumption expenditure on goods in value in 2016
- (2) Last three months / previous three months
Documentation
Methodology (pdf,23 Ko)