10.04.202606:29:23UTC+00Swedish Household Spending Eases in February

Household spending in Sweden rose by 0.1% month-on-month in February, slowing from a downwardly revised 0.5% increase in January. The deceleration was driven by weaker growth in several key categories: housing, electricity, gas, and heating (0.3% vs 1.1% in January); clothing and footwear (0.4% vs 0.8%); and furniture, furnishings, household equipment, and consumables (0.9% vs 2.3%). Consumption was flat in transport, retail trade, and motor vehicle services (vs a 5.9% increase in January).

At the same time, spending fell in food and beverages (-0.4% vs +0.2%) and in restaurants, cafés, hotels, and other accommodation services (-1.4% vs +1.6%). By contrast, consumption rebounded in post and telecommunications (0.9% vs -3.8%) and in recreation and culture (1.3% vs -3.8%).

On an annual basis, household consumption rose by 1.8% in February, following an upwardly revised 2.9% increase in the previous month.