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Published: 28 March 2013

Households saved less in the fourth quarter of 2012 than a year ago

Of the principal household indicators, the saving rate was somewhat lower than a year ago and the investment rate also decreased slightly. Households' adjusted disposable income grew marginally, but not by much. The principal enterprise sector indicators fell in the last quarter. Both the profit share and investment rate of enterprises were lower than one year ago. Net lending that describes enterprises' financial position has grown over the year, largely due to destocking. These data derive from Statistics Finland’s quarterly sector accounts.

Key indicators for households and non-financial corporations

Households' saving rate was 0.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2012. One year previously, the figure was 2.6 per cent. Saving rate refers to the proportion of savings in disposable income. In the fourth quarter, the investment rate of households accounted for 11.8 per cent of disposable income. One year previously, the corresponding figure was 12.3 per cent. Most of households' investments were investments in dwellings.

Household adjusted disposable income, the indicator recommended by the OECD for measuring economic well-being, grew in nominal terms by 2.2 per cent from the corresponding quarter of last year. Adjusted disposable income is derived by adding services produced by the public sector, such as education, health and social services, to the disposable income of the household sector.

In the last quarter of 2012, the profit share of non-financial corporations, or the share of profits in value added, was 32.9 per cent. One year previously, the corresponding figure was 33.7 per cent. The investment rate of non-financial corporations, or the proportion of investments in value added, was 23.6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2012. One year ago, the investment rate was 25.1 per cent.

A sector account contains only figures at current prices. Profit share, saving rate and investment rate are calculated from net figures. Households do not include non-profit institutions serving households.

Source: Sector accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Jesse Vuorinen 09 1734 3363, Erkki Lääkäri 09 1734 3355, skt.95@stat.fi

Director in charge: Leena Storgårds

Publication in pdf-format (512.1 kB)

Reviews

• 1. Sector-specific review on the data for the fourth quarter of 2012 (28.3.2013)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Key indicators from sector accounts (28.3.2013)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Key indicators (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 2. Non-financial corporations' indicators (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 3. Financial corporations' interest income and interest expenses (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 4. Households' indicators (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 5. Components of general government sector net lending (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 6. Components of household sector adjusted disposable income (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 7. Components of the balance of goods and services in foreign trade (from the perspective of the rest-of-the-world sector) (28.3.2013)
• Appendix figure 8. Components of the current account balance in foreign trade (from the perspective of the rest of the world sector) (28.3.2013)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (28.3.2013)

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Updated 28.3.2013