In March 2020, household consumption expenditure on goods dropped by 17.9% in volume*. It is the strongest decrease ever recorded in a month since the beginning of the time series in 1980. Manufactured good consumption dropped sharply (–42.3% after –0.6%) and energy expenditure decreased markedly (–11.4% after –0.9%). Only food consumption increased (+7.8% after –0.1%). The fall in household consumption in March 2020 was essentially due to the implementation of lockdown measures from mid-March onwards. Over the whole first quarter of 2020, household expenditure on goods fell markedly (–7.3%).Manufactured good ... (full story)