Spending power rose last year, workers benefited most

Spending power rose by an average 1.1% in 2015, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday. That was down on the 1.8% boost to spending in 2014 but still the second annual increase in a row since the financial crisis, the statistics office said.

People in jobs benefited most, with an average rise of 2.5% thanks to centrally-agreed pay deals. The self-employed also had more to spent on average, but one in four saw their incomes shrink by 11%.

However, pensioners did not benefit from the recovery, with their average spending power dropping 0.1% as corporate pensions were cut or frozen. Poor pensioners, who rely on the state pension AOW, did benefit because it is linked to inflation.

Leaked government projections for next year show that everyone will have more to spend in 2017. Those figures will be published formally next Tuesday when the government announces its spending plans.