30 March 2018
2018- n° 86Household consumption expenditure on goods picked up sharply in February 2018 (+2.4%) Household consumption expenditure on goods - February 2018
In February 2018, households expenditure on goods soared (+2.4%) in volume*, after a two-month decline (−1.9% in January and −1.2% in December). This recovery in consumption was mainly due to a rebound in heating expenses. Food purchases and clothing expenses were also on the rise.
In February 2018, households expenditure on goods soared (+2.4%) in volume*, after a two-month decline (−1.9% in January and −1.2% in December). This recovery in consumption was mainly due to a rebound in heating expenses. Food purchases and clothing expenses were also on the rise.
*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 rise
In February 2018, energy consumption surged (+8.9%), after a sharp decline in January (−6.4%). Heating expenses (gas and electricity) went up strongly, driven by cold waves that brought average temperatures in February more than two degrees below seasonal norms. This cold month followed the mildest January since 1900. Furthermore, refined product consumption rebounded (+1.6% after −3.5%), notably domestic heating oil.
graphiqueGraph2 – Breakdown of energy
- Source: INSEE
Engineered goods: sharp rebound
In February 2018, expenditure on engineered goods increased again after declining for two months. The rise was driven by car purchases and clothing expenses.
Durables: upturn
In February, consumption of durables recovered (+0.7% after −1.4%). Purchases of transport equipment regained momentum (+2.0% after −3.4%), in particular those of new cars and recreational vehicles.
However, expenditure on household durables declined (−1.1% after +1.5%), in particular purchases of computer products, communication equipments and audiovisual devices.
Textile-clothing: sharp recovery
In February, expenditure on textile-clothing picked up steeply (+3.1% after −1.8%). Purchases of shoes and textile were particularly dynamic.
Other engineered goods: slight fall
Purchases of “other engineered goods” were again slightly down (−0.2%, as in January). In particular, expenses on hardware and DIY materials decreased.
graphiqueGraph3 – Breakdown of engineered goods
- Source: INSEE
Food products: marked rebound
In February 2018, food consumption was on the rise (+1.1% after −0.7%). The upswing was significant in both unprocessed agricultural goods (fruits, vegetables) and in agrifood products (meat, dairy products). Consumption of beverages and tobbacco grew also.
graphiqueGraph4 – Food products, engineered goods and energy
- Source: INSEE
The variation in January 2018 is unchanged
Compared to the previous estimation, new information has been integrated and the seasonal adjustment coefficients have been updated, without revising the change in January 2018 (−1.9%).
tableauTable – Household consumption expenditure on goods
| Weight (1) | Dec. 2017 | Jan. 2018 | Feb. 2018 | Feb. 18 / Feb. 17 | Q / Q-1 (2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food products | 38 | –1.5 | –0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | –0.8 |
| - excl. Tobacco | 35 | –1.4 | –0.9 | 1.1 | 1.1 | –0.6 |
| Engineered goods | 44 | –1.4 | –1.1 | 0.9 | 0.7 | –0.6 |
| - Durables | 22 | –1.7 | –1.4 | 0.7 | 2.1 | –0.9 |
| Including : | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| - Transport equipment | 12 | 1.5 | –3.4 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.2 |
| - Household durables | 7 | –6.6 | 1.5 | –1.1 | 0.9 | –2.7 |
| - Textile-clothing | 9 | –2.3 | –1.8 | 3.1 | –1.6 | –0.2 |
| - Other engineered goods | 13 | –0.2 | –0.2 | –0.2 | 0.1 | –0.4 |
| Energy | 18 | –0.4 | –6.4 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 0.9 |
| - Energy, water, waste | 10 | –2.7 | –8.6 | 15.1 | 14.1 | 1.2 |
| - Refined Products | 8 | 2.8 | –3.5 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 |
| Total | 100 | –1.2 | –1.9 | 2.4 | 1.9 | –0.4 |
| - Including Manufactured goods | 84 | –1.0 | –1.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | –0.5 |
- (1) Weighting in the consumption expenditure on goods in value in 2016
- (2) Last three months / previous three months
Documentation
Methodology (pdf,23 Ko)
Pour en savoir plus
