Half of spending on housing, transport and food

The FINANCIAL — Household consumption patterns vary and very much depend on income levels, cultural habits and geographical situation.

On average, the largest portion (nearly a quarter) of household consumption expenditure in the EU in 2016 was devoted to “housing, water, electricity and gas” (which excludes purchase of dwellings), while “transport” accounted for 13 % and “food” for 12 %. “Restaurants and hotels” and “recreation and culture” followed, with shares of around 9 % each.

Household expenditure was mostly devoted to “housing” in all Member States except Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania, where “food” was the most significant component, and Cyprus and Malta where it was “restaurants and hotels”.