Household purchasing power dropped by 0,5 percent in 2010, the most substantial decline since 1985 when Statistics Netherlands started surveying changes in the perceived purchasing power on an annual basis.

In terms of their purchasing power, self-employed and pensioners lost 1,4 and 0,8 percent respectively, while the lowest income earners faced loss of only 0,1 percent.

Note that the only other year to show a decline in the Netherlands was 2005 when purchasing power dropped by 0,3 percent.