(ANSA) - ROME, 28 DIC - European Union household spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages amounted to over 956bn in 2019, equal to 6.8% of the EU's GDP. The figure represents 13.0% of total consumer spending and is ranked as the third biggest category of household spending after housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which accounted for 23.5% of spending, and transport ( 13.1%). Eurostat reported about the situation before the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the European statistical office, Romanian families have spent about a quarter of total household spending on food and non-alcoholic drinks (26.0%), followed by Lithuania (20.2%) and Estonia (19.3%). Italy recorded a rate that is under 15%. The spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages is less than 10% in three EU Member States: Ireland (8.6%), Luxembourg (8.9%), and Austria (9.7%). Between 2009 and 2019, household spending on food decreased or remained stable in most EU member states. Lithuania recorded the largest decline (down 5.2%), followed by Malta (down 3.5) and Poland (down 3.0). The Czech Republic recorded an increase (up 1.3%), followed by Slovakia (up 1.1%), Hungary (up 0.5%) and the Netherlands (up 0.4%). (ANSA).