What are the main expenses in EU households

In January 2026, almost half (46.0%) of total household consumption expenditure in the EU was spent on 3 categories: food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water and energy; and transport. Each category registered substantial price increases in at least 1 of the recent years, highlighting their importance in the broader rise in consumer prices during this period.

Source dataset: prc_hicp_iw

Across the EU, the shares of expenditure increased for 3 categories between January 2025 and January 2026: recreation, sport and culture (up 1.2 percentage points), restaurants and accommodation services (up 0.3 percentage points) and education (up 0.1 percentage points). By contrast, the largest decreases were recorded for the shares of expenditure on transport (down 0.4 percentage points) and information and communication (down 0.3 percentage points).

This information comes from Key figures on Europe - 2026 edition. The publication provides an overview of recent developments in the EU, covering topics from people and society to economy, business, environment and natural resources. For a more detailed view of the EU's performance in various fields, explore the other Key figures publications.