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. Consumer durables are especially popular, as is the case in the Netherlands. The most recent data seem to point at a decrease in job growth and consumer confidence. This might put the brakes on consumer spending.
Japan shows modest growth.
The fact that consumer spending is slow is seen as one of the main causes of the disappointing economic growth in the country. The growth rate dropped substantially in 1997 and 1998. The insecurity as a result of the Asia crisis must have played a part. In 1999 there has been some growth again, partly due to the measures by the Japanese government to stimulate the economy. Developments in German household consumption are also modest.