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Household consumption expenditure

Household consumption expenditure measures the volume of expenditure on goods and services by New Zealand households. Household consumption expenditure is a key component of the New Zealand economy, accounting for around 60 per cent of all expenditure on goods and services in New Zealand each year (ie, GDP expenditure).

Real household consumption expenditure as a share of real GDP expenditure, 1992–2008 (year ending March, 1995/96 prices)

Real household consumption expenditure as a share of real GDP expenditure, 1992–2008 (year ending March, 1995/96 prices)

Underlying data for above graph

Source: Statistics New Zealand.

In general, as household consumption expenditure increases so too does the use of natural resources (eg, land and water), energy and transport and the generation of waste, greenhouse gas emissions and air, water and soil pollution.

Household consumption expenditure measures the volume of expenditure by households on a variety of goods and services. These goods and services are grouped into nine categories.

To report on household consumption expenditure, the following are presented:

Did you know?

  • Households account for nearly two thirds of all expenditure on the goods and services produced in New Zealand each year (ie, GDP expenditure).
  • Housing, transport, and food and beverages are the top three consumption categories in New Zealand.
  • New Zealand households accounted for a third of electricity used in New Zealand in the March 2007 year (and this doesn't include the electricity used to produce goods and services that households consume).

Limitations of the household consumption expenditure indicator

 

This information has come from the Household Consumption Expenditure environmental report card.

 

Last updated: April 2009