French household consumption of goods was down by 0.1 percent in April after rising 1.1 percent in March, national statistics institute Insee said on Monday.
Last month’s drop in expenditure stemmed mainly from decelerating energy consumption which slowed by 0.9 percent compared to the 4.4 percent increase reported in March on falling petroleum products.
Insee data also showed a significant drop in food consumption by 1.2 percent, due mainly to a further decrease in meat consumption and a downturn in beverages.
However, on a quarterly basis, household goods consumption grew by 1.6 percent thanks to a rise in the consumption of energy products and durable goods.
The consumption of manufactured products accounts for 25 percent of France’s total expenditure of goods and services. (Cihan/Xinhua)