09.04.202604:30:00UTC+00Dutch Consumer Spending Declines Further in February, Signalling Weak Household Demand

Consumer spending in the Netherlands deteriorated in February 2026, underscoring persistent weakness in household demand. According to the latest data updated on 9 April 2026, Dutch consumer spending fell by 0.5% in February, following a 0.3% contraction in January 2026.

The deepening decline suggests that Dutch households remained cautious at the start of the year, with spending momentum weakening rather than stabilising. The back-to-back drops in January and February highlight a challenging environment for domestic consumption, raising concerns about the strength of one of the key drivers of the Dutch economy.

With consumer expenditure under pressure for a second consecutive month and the pace of contraction accelerating, analysts and policymakers will be closely watching upcoming data to assess whether this marks the start of a more prolonged slowdown in household spending or a short-lived soft patch.