Paperjam.lu

 

Between 2000 and 2016, the annual household saving rate in the European Union was relatively stable, ranging from 11 % to 13 %. Over the same period the rate in the euro area varied between 12 % and 14 %.

Disposable income growth since crisis

Eurostat also reports that in real terms, the disposable income of households, grew in the EU in total by 16 % between 2000 and 2009. Following the financial crisis, it decreased by around 3 % from 2009 to 2013 and then rose by 5 % between 2013 and 2016. In total, the disposable income of households increased by around 18 % between 2000 and 2016, meaning an average growth rate of 1 % per year.

Luxembourg & Denmark most expensive for consumer goods

Price levels for consumer goods and services differ widely among EU member states. In 2017, Denmark and Luxembourg had the highest price levels (both 41 % above the EU average), followed by Sweden (35 % above), Ireland (28 % above), Finland (23 % above) and the United Kingdom (17 % above), while the lowest levels were observed in Bulgaria (56 % below the EU average), Romania (52 % below), Poland (47 % below), Hungary (42 % below) and Lithuania (40 % below).

At a more detailed level, Denmark was the most expensive member state in 2017 for "restaurants and hotels" (51 % above the EU average), "food" (50 % above), "recreation and culture" (48 % above), "transport (28 % above) and "household equipment" (20 % above). Ireland was the most expensive Member State for "alcoholic beverages and tobacco" (74 % above), Luxembourg for "housing, water, electricity and gas" (63 % above), Greece for "communications" (54 % above) and Sweden for "clothing and footwear" (34 % above).