2026.06.0904:49:48UTC+00Dutch Household Spending Rises the Most in 6 Months

Household consumption in the Netherlands rose by 1% year-on-year in April 2026, slightly faster than the 0.9% increase recorded in March and marking the strongest growth since October. The upturn was largely driven by durable goods, with purchases up 4.9% from a year earlier (vs 4.7% in March), as consumers spent more on cars, electrical appliances, and household furnishings. Spending on food and beverages also increased (0.9% vs -0.5%), as did expenditure on other goods, including energy and personal care products (0.5% vs -1.4%).

By contrast, expenditure on services—which accounts for more than half of total household consumption—ticked down by 0.1% (vs a 0.4% gain in March), reflecting reduced spending on accommodation and food services, despite higher outlays on transport and communication. Looking ahead, conditions for household spending appeared somewhat less unfavorable in May, supported mainly by a stronger year-on-year rise in share prices.