IN 2009 THE OVERALL
CONSUMPTION
OF PIEMONTE'S
HOUSEHOLDS FELL
For the ninth consecutive year Unioncamere Piemonte and Regione Piemonte conducted the survey of the spending of Piemonte's families. The objective of the survey is the analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, of consumption, examining the purchasing levels and habits of Piemonte's families and analysing the divergences from previous editions.
In an economic context as in recent years characterised by great economic uncertainty, it becomes important to evaluate an indicator like that of household expenditure, in a period in which purchasing decisions seem more and more rational.
The survey involved 810 households resident in all of Piemonte's provincial capitals and the analysis of their consumption was divided into four periods of reference, each of ten days.
In 2009 the consumption expenditure of Piemonte's families reached € 2,759.12, net of maintenance expenses but gross of the purchase of vehicles, recording an average decrease of 1.6% at current values compared to 2008.
In this context, two contrasting tendencies can be seen: on the one hand the increase in spending on food and on the other the fall in non-food expenditure. In particular, the increase in food spending can be attributed in part to the increase in prices, but also to the increase of meals in the home rather than eating out. In 2009, in fact, the average expenditure on eating out decreased, falling to € 58 per month compared to € 64 in 2008.
Expenditure on not strictly indispensable consumer goods also dropped: there was in fact a fall in spending on furnishings and clothes, but also expenditure on holidays and leisure, while less discretional items, such as transport, communication and housing saw lower decreases.
Going more into detail, the expenditure on food in 2009 by families in Piemonte increased by 8.57%, equal to +26.56 euro, reaching an average of € 336.43 per month compared to € 309.87 in the previous year.
Compared to 2008, more was spent in almost all sectors, with only two exceptions: spending on milk, eggs and cheese was stable, while expenditure on fish fell. Finally, the categories for which most was spent were meat and cold cuts, bread, pasta, cereals and dairy products. Once again, the most significant share in the budget of the average Piedmontese family is on housing which, against stagnation in overall expenditure, saw a slight reduction.
In 2009, the expenditure for housing in the strict sense, i.e. payments for rent, condominium expenses, insurance and waste disposal, amounted to € 688.94 and represents 28.4% of total consumption expenses. Expenditure classified directly as "housing" includes condominium costs for € 65.69 per month, house insurance (€ 36.41 per month), in addition to the tax on waste collection (€ 20.25 per month).
For the ninth consecutive year Unioncamere Piemonte and Regione Piemonte conducted the survey of the spending of Piemonte's families. The objective of the survey is the analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, of consumption, examining the purchasing levels and habits of Piemonte's families and analysing the divergences from previous editions.
In an economic context as in recent years characterised by great economic uncertainty, it becomes important to evaluate an indicator like that of household expenditure, in a period in which purchasing decisions seem more and more rational.
The survey involved 810 households resident in all of Piemonte's provincial capitals and the analysis of their consumption was divided into four periods of reference, each of ten days.
In 2009 the consumption expenditure of Piemonte's families reached € 2,759.12, net of maintenance expenses but gross of the purchase of vehicles, recording an average decrease of 1.6% at current values compared to 2008.
In this context, two contrasting tendencies can be seen: on the one hand the increase in spending on food and on the other the fall in non-food expenditure. In particular, the increase in food spending can be attributed in part to the increase in prices, but also to the increase of meals in the home rather than eating out. In 2009, in fact, the average expenditure on eating out decreased, falling to € 58 per month compared to € 64 in 2008.
Expenditure on not strictly indispensable consumer goods also dropped: there was in fact a fall in spending on furnishings and clothes, but also expenditure on holidays and leisure, while less discretional items, such as transport, communication and housing saw lower decreases.
Going more into detail, the expenditure on food in 2009 by families in Piemonte increased by 8.57%, equal to +26.56 euro, reaching an average of € 336.43 per month compared to € 309.87 in the previous year.
Compared to 2008, more was spent in almost all sectors, with only two exceptions: spending on milk, eggs and cheese was stable, while expenditure on fish fell. Finally, the categories for which most was spent were meat and cold cuts, bread, pasta, cereals and dairy products. Once again, the most significant share in the budget of the average Piedmontese family is on housing which, against stagnation in overall expenditure, saw a slight reduction.
In 2009, the expenditure for housing in the strict sense, i.e. payments for rent, condominium expenses, insurance and waste disposal, amounted to € 688.94 and represents 28.4% of total consumption expenses. Expenditure classified directly as "housing" includes condominium costs for € 65.69 per month, house insurance (€ 36.41 per month), in addition to the tax on waste collection (€ 20.25 per month).
TOTAL CONSUMPTION OF FAMILIES IN PIEMONTE 2001-2009
Source: Unioncamere Piemonte, "Household expenditure in Piemonte"
Another substantial spending item for Piemonte's families is for transport and communication. In 2009, the region's families spent an average of € 537.01 to move and communicate: the expenditure on transport came to € 446.25 per month (including vehicle purchase), while communication (expenses for telephone land line and mobile and Internet connection) cost families € 90.75, an amount stable compared to 2008.
Taking a look at consumption behaviour, fair trade products continue to represent a relatively modest share of all family purchases: spending on this type of product seems to have dropped in 2009. In contrast, hire purchases seem to grow: in 2009 16.5% of households in Piemonte used consumer credit, a figure that was lower in the previous year at 14.8%. Vehicles and household appliances were the goods most frequently purchased with payments by instalments. 2009 was also a year without progress for e-commerce in Piemonte. 21.9% of households stated that they used the net for purchases, a figure slightly lower compared to the previous year (the percentage was 22.5% in 2008).
Another substantial spending item for Piemonte's families is for transport and communication. In 2009, the region's families spent an average of € 537.01 to move and communicate: the expenditure on transport came to € 446.25 per month (including vehicle purchase), while communication (expenses for telephone land line and mobile and Internet connection) cost families € 90.75, an amount stable compared to 2008.
Taking a look at consumption behaviour, fair trade products continue to represent a relatively modest share of all family purchases: spending on this type of product seems to have dropped in 2009. In contrast, hire purchases seem to grow: in 2009 16.5% of households in Piemonte used consumer credit, a figure that was lower in the previous year at 14.8%. Vehicles and household appliances were the goods most frequently purchased with payments by instalments. 2009 was also a year without progress for e-commerce in Piemonte. 21.9% of households stated that they used the net for purchases, a figure slightly lower compared to the previous year (the percentage was 22.5% in 2008).