Household consumption expenditure in the European Union (EU), adjusted for inflation, had a slight increase of 0.5% last year, which compares with a year-on-year increase of 5.4% in 2022. Portugal is the seventh state member with the highest expenditure, above the community average, but recorded the fourth highest growth (+3.8%) in this indicator, according to Eurostat.

Data released by the European Statistical Office reveal that, in 2023, household consumption expenditure increased most in food and accommodation services (+4.6%), followed by transport (+4.3%) and recreation, sport and culture (+3.0%).

Final consumption expenditure is understood as expenditure made by resident families on goods or services, used to directly satisfy individual needs or desires or the collective needs of members of the community.

Comparing the evolution since 2021, a year still marked by restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, household consumption expenditure on restaurants and accommodation services and on recreation, sport and culture saw significant growth of 41.3% and 23.5% %, respectively.

In the opposite direction, furniture, domestic equipment and current housing maintenance (-4.9%) was the segment with the biggest drop in household final consumption expenditure in 2023, with decreases also being recorded in food and non-alcoholic drinks (-3.7%) and in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (-2.2%).

Among the 19 Member States with available data, Malta had the largest increase (+17.5%) in household final consumption expenditure last year, followed by Cyprus (+7.7%) and Ireland (+4.2%). %), while Sweden (-2.7%), Hungary (-2.6%) and the Czech Republic (-2.2%) had the biggest falls.