On Monday, national statistics provider Statec published new data on Luxembourg’s spending habits over the past few years, showing marked trends as a result of global crises.
One change is the rising number of takeaway meals. The amount spent on takeaways doubled from 2019 to 2022, while food expenses rose by 10% in the same time period. Taking inflation into account, this represents an increase of around 27%.
Although people are now spending more money on consuming products in bars, cafés or canteens, they have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels from 2019. These days, Luxembourgers spend 46.6% less in bars and cafés, and 36.3% less in canteens, than they did four years ago.
Household spending has also dropped in areas such as culture and sports, reducing by around 24%. Recreational activities such as cycling, or holidaying in campervans, are notably less popular now, despite observing a boom in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic.
The pandemic heavily influenced Luxembourg residents’ home lives, with pet expenses increasing by 64% over the past three years. People also rediscovered leisure habits revolving around books and board games, which remain popular long after lockdowns were scrapped.
In addition, many Luxembourgers opted to invest in redecorating their living spaces, with renovation expenses increasing massively over the past few years. However, Statec notes that these costs could be heavily affected by the raw materials and craftsmanship price increases over the same time period.
