Netherlands consumer spending up over 2014 figures

Consumer spending in the Netherlands was up 1.3 percent in July compared to the same month last year. Like in the previous months, consumers especially spent more on home furnishings and household appliances. This is according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Friday. Spending on durable goods increased the most with a 5.4 percent increase, particularly in household appliances and furnishings. This goes hand in hand with the improvement in the housing market. Consumers spent 1.5 percent more on other goods such as gas and fuel. Spending on food, beverages and tobacco was 1.6 percent less than in July 2014. Spending on services, which makes up more than half of the total domestic consumer spending in the Netherlands, increased by 0.9 percent. According to Statistics Netherlands' Consumption Radar, conditions for consumption by Dutch households is fraction better in September than in July, but worse when compared to August. Statistics Netherlands attributes the deterioration in September to the fact that the increase in market value of Dutch shares on an annual basis was significantly smaller in September than in August. Consumers' also feel more negative about future employment than they did last month.