Home > Statistics > Quarterly sector accounts > 2015 > 4th quarter > Households' saving rate was negative in the fourth quarter of 2015

Published: 16 March 2016

Households' saving rate was negative in the fourth quarter of 2015

The saving rate of the household sector was negative in the fourth quarter of 2015. The saving rate did, however, improve compared to the third quarter. Adjusted disposable income describing households' economic well-being grew year-on-year. The profit share of the non-financial corporations sector weakened compared with the previous quarter but the investment rate grew clearly. These data derive from Statistics Finland’s quarterly sector accounts.

Key indicators for households and non-financial corporations, seasonally adjusted

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the profit share of non-financial corporations, or the share of profits in value added, weakened by 1.3 percentage points to 22 per cent. The investment rate of non-financial corporations, or the proportion of investments in value added, increased by 1.1 per cent to 26.6 per cent. The key figures were calculated from seasonally adjusted time series.

Households' saving rate was -0.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015. In the previous quarter, the figure was -0.8 per cent and in the early part of the year it was positive. The saving rate refers to the share of savings in disposable income. In the fourth quarter, the investment rate of households accounted for 10.4 per cent of disposable income. The investment rate of households has not changed significantly over the past year. Most of households' investments were investments in dwellings.

Households' adjusted disposable income grew from the corresponding quarter in 2014 by 0.8 per cent adjusted for price changes. Adjusted income is the indicator recommended by the OECD for evaluating the economic well-being of households. Adjusted disposable income is derived by adding individual services produced by the public sector, such as education, health and social services, to the disposable income of households.

Sector accounts are calculated only at current prices. However, a volume indicator describing the development adjusted for price changes is calculated for households' adjusted disposable income in a separate Appendix table. The profit share, saving rate and investment rate are calculated from net figures, which means that consumption of fixed capital is taken into account. Households do not include non-profit institutions serving households.

Source: Sector accounts, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pekka Tamminen 029 551 2460, Katri Soinne 029 551 2778, kansantalous.suhdanteet@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ville Vertanen

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Key indicators from sector accounts (16.3.2016)
• Appendix table 2. Key indicators from sector accounts (seasonally adjusted) (16.3.2016)
• Appendix table 3. Volume development of household adjusted disposable income (16.3.2016)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Volume development of households adjusted disposable income (16.3.2016)
• Appendix figure 2. Households saving rate (16.3.2016)
• Appendix figure 3. Households investment rate (16.3.2016)
• Appendix figure 4. Non - financial corporations profit share (16.3.2016)
• Appendix figure 5. Non - financial corporations investment rate (16.3.2016)

Revisions in these statistics

• Revisions in these statistics (16.3.2016)

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Updated 16.3.2016