The structure of consumer spending : an EU comparison

The purchasing power of EU consumers varies considerably. This is also reflected by the structure of households’ expenditure. The share of food in consumer spending is highest in Romania, one of the countries with the lowest per capita income. On the other hand, the top earner, Luxembourg, has the highest expenditure share compared to the rest of the EU for transport and especially for the purchase of motor vehicles. But beyond purchasing power, local preferences also play an important role. For example, in an EU comparison, the Croatians spend the most money for services related to tourist activities like accommodation, and Greece has the highest share among the EU countries regarding expenditure on olive oil. Germany leads the EU ranking with regard to package holidays as a share of consumer spending.