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Published: 28 March 2019

Households’ net financial assets decreased in the fourth quarter of 2018

Households’ financial assets declined by EUR 6.8 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018 falling to EUR 302.9 billion. In turn, households’ debts increased by EUR 1.1 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018 rising to EUR 167.8 billion. As a result of these changes, households' net financial assets decreased by EUR 7.9 billion to EUR 135.1 billion. Net financial assets refer to the difference between financial assets and liabilities. These data derive from Statistics Finland’s financial accounts statistics.

Change from the previous quarter in households’ net financial assets

Holding losses decreased households’ financial assets

During the fourth quarter of 2018, households increased their net investments in financial assets by EUR 0.8 billion. Households' net investments increased in deposits and decreased in debt securities, quoted shares and mutual funds.

Even though households' net investments in financial assets increased, holding gains caused a fall in the total level of financial assets.

Households’ indebtedness ratio declined

Households’ loan debts grew by EUR 1.1 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018 rising to EUR 153.2 billion. Households' indebtedness ratio went down by 0.8 percentage points from the previous quarter to 127.3 per cent. Households' indebtedness ratio is calculated as the ratio of their loan debts at the end of a quarter to their total disposable income during the preceding four quarters.

Non-financial corporations’ debt financing decreased

Non-financial corporations’ debt financing declined by EUR 6.4 billion during the fourth quarter of 2018 falling to EUR 241.8 billion. In the fourth quarter of 2018, non-financial corporations’ financing in the form of debt securities declined by EUR 1.3 billion to EUR 29.8 billion, while non-financial corporations' loan debts went down by EUR 5.1 billion to EUR 212.0 billion. Debt financing refers to the total of loan debts and financing in the form of debt securities.

Source: Financial accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Tuomas Koivisto 029 551 3329, rahoitus.tilinpito@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Financial liabilities of Non-financial corporations, excl. housing corporations, EUR million (28.3.2019)
• Appendix table 2. Households' indebtedness ratio (28.3.2019)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Households financial assets (28.3.2019)
• Appendix figure 2. Households net acquisitions of deposits, quoted shares and mutual fund shares (28.3.2019)
• Appendix figure 3. Households indebtedness ratio (28.3.2019)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (28.3.2019)

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Updated 28.3.2019