Dutch consumer spending fell by 6.2% in July when compared with the year earlier period, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday.

The decline is well down on the previous three months, when the coronavirus pandemic was at its height. In April, for example, consumer spending fell by a record 17%, the CBS said.

Spending was down on restaurants, theatre, amusement parks and gyms – all of which had been hard hit by the lockdown. Spending on public transport also fell by 14%. By contrast consumers spent more on internet, durable goods and cars.

The consumer confidence index also remains low, hitting -28 in September, just one percentage point up on August.

Consumers are less willing to make major purchases in September than they were in the previous month, the CBS said.