Household expenditure categories

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Topics: Household consumption ,

Assessment made on 01 Jan 2001

Note: new version is available!

Feb 28, 2013 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Feb 2013
Mar 29, 2012 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Mar 2012
Aug 08, 2011 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Aug 2011
Sep 14, 2010 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Sep 2010
Apr 28, 2008 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Apr 2008
May 21, 2007 - EN16 Final Energy Consumption by Sector
Mar 23, 2007 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Mar 2007
Apr 12, 2006 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Apr 2006
Sep 27, 2005 - Final energy consumption by sector (CSI 027/ENER 016) - Assessment published Sep 2005

Generic metadata

Classification

Household consumption (Primary theme)

DPSIR: Driving force

Identification

Indicator codes

Geographical coverage:

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Contents

Policy issue: How are consumption patterns changing?

Key messages

Consumer spending per capita has increased by 46% since 1980, shifting from basic needs (food, housing) towards less basic needs (transport, fuel, recreation).

Figures

Household consumption expenditure, EU15 constant 1990 prices

Key assessment

By 1997, the average European consumer had almost double the spending power of his counterpart in 1980, in real terms. The extra spending power went in two main directions:

health: spending doubled, probably reflecting the ageing European population;
less basic needs, including recreation (73% increase) and transport (65%).

Spending on food and clothing, on the other hand, only increased by 20%. The marked increase in expenditure on recreation includes the growth of private car use and tourism, which can add significantly to the environmental impacts of households.