Swedish Household Spending Rebounds in May

Household spending in Sweden edged down 0.1% month-on-month in May 2026, compared to the previous week's indicator of 0.7%, following a 0.7% fall in the previous month. Consumption declined for health (-4.5% vs 3.1% in April), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (-1.7%vs -0.2%), transport (-4.5%vs -6.2%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (-2.1%vs 1.5%), personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services (-4.0% vs -4.2%), and recreation, sport and culture (-0.1%vs -5.1%). By contrast, spending continued to rise for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.7% vs 1.7%) and information and communication (0.9% vs 2.1%), while it rebounded for clothing and footwear (0.2% vs -5.2%), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (1.4% vs -0.1%), and restaurants and accommodation services (1.6% vs -0.3%). On a yearly basis, household consumption increased 2.1% in May, following a 1.7% rise in the preceding period.

Household spending in Sweden increased 0.7% month-on-month in May 2026, rebounding from a 0.8% drop in the previous month. Consumption recovered for housing and utilities (1.4% vs -0.1% in April), transportation (1.3% vs -5.5%), and restaurants and hotels (1% vs -0.1%). At the same time, spending declined at a slower pace for clothing and footwear (-0.2% vs -5.8%), recreation and culture (-2.6% vs -5.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (-1.3% vs -3.8%), while consumption recorded an increase for information and communication (2.6% vs 2.5%). On the other hand, spending moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.3% vs 1.8%) and dropped for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-0.4% vs 1.7%) and healthcare (-4.5% vs 3.1%). On a yearly basis, household consumption advanced 3.4% in May, following a 1.8% rise in the preceding period.

Household spending in Sweden increased 1.4% month-on-month in March 2026, picking up from an upwardly revised 0.2% rise in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since November 2025, mainly driven by stronger consumption of clothing and footwear (3.4% vs 0.4% in February), transport, retail trade, and motor vehicle services (2.3% vs 0.7%), post and telecommunications (3.2% vs 1.1%), and recreation and culture (3.7% vs 1.4%). At the same time, spending rebounded in food and beverages (3.1% vs -0.4%), restaurants, cafes, hotels, and other accommodation services (1.6% vs -1.4%), and other goods and services (4.5% vs -4.0%). Meanwhile, consumption slowed for furniture, furnishings, household equipment, and consumables (0.6% vs 0.8%), while it declined for housing, electricity, gas, and heating (-1.7% vs 0.5%). On a yearly basis, household consumption climbed 4.1%, accelerating from an upwardly revised 1.9% increase in the previous month.