Consumption almost back to normal post-Coronavirus Crisis

People in Denmark spent heavily on home improvement and online shopping, but cut down on travel expenses during the pandemic

People in Denmark closed their wallets as the Coronavirus Crisis shut down the country, but with society’s reopening came a return to normal for local consumption.

Card purchases and MobilePay transactions are now stabilising after falling 20 percent in March due to the pandemic, according to a senior analyst at Danske Bank.

“We are seeing a return to normal and it seems that all groups are increasing their consumption as the economy opens up again,” Louise Aggerstrøm Hansen told TV2.

Construction up but travel down
Among the patterns analysts have observed is a boom in construction spending – particularly among home improvement (DIY) customers, as many people stayed home and took the opportunity to work on projects and renovations. As a result sales increased by 60 percent during the crisis.

“We still have a high level of activity as summer is the peak season for home improvement markets,” said Mads Brejnholt Madsen, the sales director at hardware chain Stark.

Spending on travel however remains minimal because of uncertainty surrounding trips abroad.

Online shopping
Online shopping also surged, drawing an atypical market as elderly people began to take to purchasing items on the Internet.

In contrast, cash payments suffered a decline during the crisis.




  • Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair has increased its cuts from the Billund-Aalborg route to encompass its entire operation to and from Billund Airport. The airline’s scarce communication is leaving both the airport and passengers scrambling for answers.

  • What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    As tradition has it, many Danes take a week off for Vinterferie next week. Or the week after. It’s a bit confusing, especially since Christmas and New Year’s Holiday are not far away. What’s going on?

  • The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    Denmark offers free public education, but private schools and universities for non-EU students require tuition. Language is a barrier, with international schools available for children and limited English-taught university programs. In 2024, Denmark expanded university seats for internationals and introduced an HF-international program in Aarhus.

  • Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF-international program in August, offering young adult internationals an alternative to IB programs with a focus on career-oriented education and Danish language learning. Unlike IB, it reduces academic pressure while providing access to vocational schools and professional bachelor’s degrees

  • Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Some of Denmark’s leading companies reported solid financial results for 2024, with Lundbeck, Demant, and Vestas seeing growth, while Pandora tackled rising production costs with price increases and cost-saving measures.

  • Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    These days, the Greenlandic institutions are approving two new norms to restrict, reduce, or ban the possibility for foreign citizens to buy real estate on the island, as well as for political parties to receive large amounts of money from foreign donors.