Dutch Personal Spending Grows the Least in 7 Months

Household consumption in the Netherlands rose 0.8% year-on-year in December 2025, easing slightly from an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in November and marking the slowest growth in three months. Spending growth softened for household goods (0.4% vs 1.4%), reflecting weaker purchases of food, beverages, and tobacco (2.1% vs 2.6%) as well as durable goods (0.4% vs 1.9%), while consumption of other goods remained in decline (-1.8% vs -1.2%). In contrast, services spending strengthened to 1.2% from 0.6%, driven by higher outlays on transport and communication, healthcare, hospitality, recreation, and culture. Services account for more than half of total household consumption. Meanwhile, the January Consumption Conditions indicator deteriorated from December, as employment growth slowed and consumers became less optimistic about their financial outlook for the year ahead, pointing to softer momentum in household demand.

Household consumption in the Netherlands rose 0.5% year-on-year in November 2025, easing from an upwardly revised 0.9% gain in the previous month and marking the weakest growth since April. Durable goods spending moderated (1.4% vs 2.3% in October), supported mainly by footwear, appliances, and clothing, while overall goods consumption was subdued (0.1% vs 1.0%). Outlays on other goods, such as energy and motor fuels, dropped sharply (-3.4% vs 0.5%). In contrast, services, which account for over half of household spending, maintained steady growth (at 0.9%), led by transport, communication, and medical services. Food, beverages, and tobacco rebounded (1.1% vs -0.3%). Meanwhile, the December Consumption Radar signaled worsening conditions, with consumers more pessimistic about unemployment and less confident in their financial outlook for the year ahead. The employed labour force and share price growth also slowed, underscoring softer momentum in household demand.

Household consumption in the Netherlands grew by 0.8% year-on-year in October 2025, the same pace as in the previous month. Consumption of goods accelerated (1% vs 0.1 in September), largely driven by higher purchases of durable consumer goods (2.2% vs 0.2%), with households spending more on items such as shoes, electrical appliances, home furnishings, and clothing. Consumption of services, which accounts for more than half of total household consumption, also continued to rise (0.6% vs 1.2%), mainly for transport and communication services as well as medical services. In addition, spending on other goods, such as personal care products and energy, edged slightly higher (0.5% vs 0.4%). Conversely, households spent less on food, beverages, and tobacco (at -3%). The November Consumption Radar, which tracks key factors affecting household spending, showed improved conditions from October, driven by higher share prices and a more optimistic consumer outlook for the year ahead.