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A little over 14% of household expenses in 2021 went to food and non alcoholic drinks

02/02/2023 10:02

In 2021, households in the European Union spent over 1035 billion euro (equivalent to 7.1% of total EU GDP) on 'Food and non-alcoholic beverages', according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU.

This represents a share of 14.3% of total household expenditure. Compared with 2020 (14.8% share), this represents a decrease of 0.5 percentage points (pp).

In Cyprus, spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages stood at 14.1% of total expenditure and at 9.2% of GDP.

The highest shares for 'Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ expenditure in 2021 were registered in Romania (24.8%), Lithuania (20.4%), Bulgaria (20.1%), Estonia (19.9%), Poland and Slovakia (both 19.6%).

In contrast the lowest shares were in Ireland (8.3%), Luxembourg (9.0%), Austria (10.9%), Denmark and Germany (both 11.8%).

Compared with 2020, the share of total household expenditure on food decreased in all EU countries, except for Poland and Slovakia, where it increased (both +0.2 pp).

The highest decreases were in Greece (-1.7 pp), Lithuania (-1.4 pp) and Croatia, Estonia and Slovenia (all -1.3 pp)

Cyprus saw a decrease of 0.7 pp compared to 2020 (15.4%).

Household expenses for alcoholic beverages

In 2021, households in the EU spent €128 billion (equivalent to 0.9% of EU GDP) on ‘alcoholic beverages’. This represents 1.8% of their total consumption expenditure, the same percentage share as in 2020.

Among EU members, the highest shares of total consumption expenditure on alcoholic beverages in 2021 were registered in Latvia (5.0%), Estonia (4.7%), Poland (3.7%), Lithuania and Czechia (both 3.6%).

On the contrary, the lowest shares were in Greece and Italy (both 1.0%), the Netherlands (1.3%) and Spain (1.4%).

In Cyprus, spending on alcoholic beverages stood at 1.9% of total expenditure and at 1.2% of GDP.

In 2021, compared with the previous year, the share of total household expenditure on alcohol remained unchanged in 10 EU countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) and it increased only in Croatia (+0.6 pp).

Among the remaining EU members, the largest decreases were recorded in Ireland (-0.5 pp), Latvia and Lithuania (both -0.4 pp), Spain and Estonia (both -0.3 pp).

Cyprus saw a decrease of 0.2 pp compared to 2020 (2.1%).