In July, August and September of this year, we still had €12.2 billion left to spend, according to data from Statistics Netherlands. This is slightly lower than in the same months last year. The cause is inflation.
“If you look at the period from 2010 to the corona, you were talking about an average of 3.6 billion euros in those same months,” says CBS economist Frank Notten. We were able to spend significantly less during the corona period, so those figures give a distorted picture.
For so-called free savings, Statistics Netherlands initially looks at the money flowing in. “Disposable income,” explains Notten. Such as salary, benefits, interest or dividends. “That has increased tremendously due to high employment and higher wages.”
Subsequently, consumption decreases. “What you spend in the hospitality industry, groceries, energy bills and rent.” What you are then left with are the free savings. “Taken from all together. You can do anything with it: spend it or put it in a savings account.”
The fact that free savings this year are €160 million lower than in the same period is due to inflation. “Expenses have increased accordingly.”
