Informations Rapides · 30 June 2021 · n° 169

Household consumption expenditure on goods bounced back sharply in May 2021 (+10.4%) Household consumption expenditure on goods - May 2021

Household consumption expenditure on goods bounced back sharply in May (+10.4% in volume* compared to April 2021), after the drop in April (–8.7%) linked to the third lockdown. This rebound was mainly driven by the manufactured goods purchases (+26.0%), with the reopening of all stores on May 19, and to a lesser extent by spending on energy (+2.6% after a stability), with the end of travel restrictions in early May. Food consumption was stable.

Spending in May 2021 reached thus a level near the average level of the fourth quarter 2019 (–0.3%).

In May, manufactured goods consumption bounced back (+26.0% after –19.7% in April), driven by the very strong rebound in expenditure on clothing and textiles (+149.2%) and to a lesser extend in purchases of durable goods (+11.3%) and other manufactured goods (+15.2%).

In May, spending on durable goods bounced back (+11.3% after –10.3%). Purchases of housing equipment recovered sharply (+24.0% after –17.1%), driven by the strong rebound in purchases of furniture and to a lesser extent household appliances. The rebound in purchases of other durable goods, in particular watches and jewelry, was a bit less marked (+ 18.6% after –22.7%), and the level of expenditure remained clearly down (–12.4% compared to the average level in Q4 2019). Finally, purchases of transport equipment increased anew (+2.8% after –2.9%), after three consecutive months of decline.

In May, spending on clothing and textiles recovered strongly (+149.2% after –57.0%), with a very sharp rebound of sales at the reopening of stores on May 19. Purchases level in May thus clearly exceeded the average of the first quarter of 2021 (+10.0%), it was only 2.2% below to the average level in Q4 2019, despite shop closures for more than half of the month.

In May, consumption of "other manufactured goods" bounced back (+15.2% after –13.5%), with the rebound in sales of sports equipment, games and toys and perfumes and hygiene articles following the reopening of stores on May 19.

In May, energy consumption increased (+2.6% after a stability in April). Fuel consumption bounced back (+7.8% after –9.3%), with the end of travel restrictions, but still remained 7.6% below its average level of the fourth quarter 2019. Gas and electricity consumption was virtually stable (–0.5% after +6.6%), with a month of May colder than the seasonal average, as in April.

In May, food consumption was stable (after a 0.4% decline in April). The slight increase in general food consumption was compensated by the drop in meat consumption and tobacco.

The variation in household consumption expenditure on goods in April 2021 was revised downwards by 0.4%, at –8.7% instead of –8.3%. Since the previous publication, new information has been integrated and the seasonal adjustment coefficients have been updated.