Household saving rate remained nearly stable in both the EU27 and the euro area
In the third quarter of 2012, the gross saving rate of households in the EU27 was 11.2%, compared with 11.1% in the second quarter of 2012. In the euro area, the household saving rate was 13.0%, compared with 12.9% in the previous quarter.
Household investment rate remained at low levels in both zones
In the EU27, the gross investment rate of households was 8.0% in the third quarter of 2012, compared with 8.1% in the second quarter of 2012. In the euro area, the household investment rate was 8.9%, stable compared with the previous quarter.
In the euro area, in nominal terms, household income rose by 0.3% in the third quarter of 2012, while consumption increased by 0.2% and investment (gross fixed capital formation, mostly in dwellings) fell by 0.3% .
In the euro area, in nominal terms, the increase in household income (+0.3%) was due to the positive contributions of social benefits (+0.3 percentage points - pp), wages (+0.2 pp) and gross operating surplus/mixed income (+0.1 pp), while taxes (-0.2 pp) and net property income and other current transfers (-0.1 pp) contributed negatively.
Household real income per capita down in the euro area
In the euro area, in real terms, household income per capita fell (-0.3%) in the third quarter of 2012, as nominal income per capita (+0.2%) rose at a slower pace than prices (+0.5%). Household real consumption per capita decreased (-0.4%).
