Press release No. 122 of 15 March 2021
WIESBADEN - In 2020 the consumption behaviour of households in Germany changed substantially due to the coronavirus pandemic. To coincide with the World Consumer Rights Day on 15 March 2021, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that, based on the national accounts concepts, household final consumption expenditure in the domestic territory was down 4.6% at current prices and 5.0% in price adjusted terms in 2020 compared with the previous year. This was the largest decline since 1970. This development differed from the trend observed during the 2008-2009 financial and economic crisis when private consumption was less affected and therefore had a stabilising effect on Germany’s national economy.
