The number of registered unemployed is small in comparison to ten years ago. In 1990 the figure for registered unemployment was about twice as high. Dutch and US consumers in a buying mood Household consumption has been the motor powering the Dutch economy in the last two years. However there was a shift towards international trade in the course of 1999. This growth rate is relatively high.
Durable goods are especially popular.
The continuing economic boom has had a positive influence on the expenditure on this category of goods. The labour market has seen positive developments in recent years, which boosted this trend. Expenditure on food, beverages and tobacco has not been growing much for several years. Since the population increases by more than a half percent this means that per capita spending on food is down. Consumer spending in the USA is also growing relatively fast.