NL Household spending up

Statistics Netherlands has reported that Dutch households have been spending more last December than the previous year. A rise of 0.7 percent has been positively reported, as it comes after nearly two and a half years of decline. Tax measures and high VAT rates in the Netherlands have blighted consumer spending. On 1 October 2012, the VAT rate was raised from 19 to 21 percent. Dutch spending on expensive goods was more frequent prior to October, when the VAT was raised. Car sales have risen, as well as household spending on food, drinks and tobacco, which grew by 0.6 percent in December. The Dutch have also spent less on other good such as energy, which has declined by 1.9 percent in 12 months.