Index of household consumption of goods, April 2007

The sales of cars to consumers continues their downwards slope following a strong increase in December and January. Despite the decrease in seasonal adjusted figures for the three consecutive months, purchases of cars are still 10 per cent higher than April 2006 figures.

Less consumption of beverages

The consumption of foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco decreased by 1.2 per cent from March to April There was a strong increase from February to March namely 1.6 per cent. It’s the consumption of beverages that pulls down the index, while the consumption of food increases.

Consumption of other goods decreased by 0.6 per cent from March to April, This is due to the decrease in the lower consumption of clothing and shoes. The decrease is a result of the high volume index for March. Since the purchases of clothing and shoe ware for the first four months of 2007 were 17% higher than the same period last year.

Still low consumption of electricity and heating fuels

The consumption of electricity and heating fuels went up by 0.7 per cent in April compared with the previous month. The level of consumption of electricity and heating fuels on the other hand was lower compared with the same period in 2006.

It is difficult to adjust for the effects of the Easter in terms of seasonal adjustment. That is why the seasonal adjusted indices of commodity consumption index are somewhat uncertain compared with the indices of other months. The rate of growth of the unadjusted figures is influenced by the Easter as well.