Dutch Households' Consumption Rises 1.8% in May, Spending Shifts Away from Hospitality

Dutch households increased overall consumption by 1.8% in May compared with the same month a year earlier, according to data from the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS). The figures are volume‑adjusted for price changes and the composition of shopping days. Growth in April was 1.0%.

The rise was driven mainly by higher purchases of durable goods, with a 6.4% year‑on‑year increase in items such as cars, shoes, clothing and home furnishings. Food spending rose 2.0%, while other goods, including energy and personal care products, grew 1.4%.

Spending on services edged up only 0.3%, reflecting modest gains in transport, communications, medical services and housing, but a decline in hospitality, recreation and culture. Services now account for more than half of total household consumption.

CBS noted that consumption conditions were slightly less unfavourable in June than in May, as consumers felt more positive about their financial outlook for the next twelve months. The agency cautioned that an improvement in conditions does not automatically translate into higher consumption growth, and the data remain provisional.