Households spent 1% more on products in May than they did a year ago, but the Dutch are tightening their belts on some basic goods, reports CBS statistics office.

The body measures the volumes that people buy, correcting them for price inflation.

Consumers spent 5.3% more on services such as transport, restaurants, events and hairdressing in May 2023 than in May 2022. Spending on services makes up half of household spending in the Netherlands.

However, in May, people did buy 5.3% less food, drink and tobacco than a year before, suggesting the effects of inflation.

The spending picture is expected to be more negative in June, according to signals from industry and the body’s “consumption radar”.