Galery

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In 2013 Greek households have reduced the money spent monthly for heating homes and foodstuffs by 7.8%, compared with 2012.

In parallel, 21% of the population lives below the poverty line, spending less than € 5,253.77 (as is the poverty line), and in 2012 the percentage was 21.2%, with annual costs of € 5,524.20.

According to data of the ELSTAT Greek statistical service from a survey of family budgets for 2013, the average monthly household expenditure was € 1509.39, a reduction of 7.8% or € 127.71 compared to 2012. Between 2013 and 2009, which is the last year before the first memorandum, the average monthly expense decreased by 31.5% (from € 2203.55 in 2009, to € 1,509.39 in 2013).

In 2013, around 725,000 households did not use central heating, fewer than in 2012. According to ELSTAT, in 2013 1,592,835 households used central heating at home, 31.3% less than those in 2012. The average monthly usage of  liquid fuels and natural gas decreased by 46.1% and 3.2% respectively, and the average monthly quantity of solid fuels (wood, pellets, briquettes), electricity and liquid gas decreased by 20.7%, 1.2% and 0.3% respectively.

The largest decrease was noted in the monthly outgoings for liquid fuels (€ -17.56), restaurants (€ -14.82) and the movement of vehicles (€ -9.74), amounts that account for 34% of the total reduction of costs (€ -127.71). And the greatest increase is in the expenditure on medicines (€ 5.11) and cafes (€ 3.68).

The biggest share of household spending is related to food (20.4%), then home (13.7%), transport (12.5%​​) and the smallest share is for education (3.4%).

Reduction of salaries and pensions, and as a consequence - of spending, changes consumers’ profile. Between 2013 and 2012 transfer of costs was observed concerning transportation, durable goods, housing, hotels, cafes and restaurants, education and communications, mainly to those affecting health, alcohol and tobacco, and food.

In the previous study (2012), there was a reduction in spending, based on the then current prices, on durable goods (11.6%), education (11.3%), transport (9.9%), hotels, cafes and restaurants (9.3%), communications (9.2%), housing (8.8%) and clothing and footwear (8.3%). There is a lesser reduction in spending on food (6.5%), recreation and culture (5.6%) and health (0.3%). A small increase is noted in outgoings for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.1%).

Households consisting of one person aged 65 and over, spend 54.5% less than the average household. Contrastingly, those households consisting of couples with two children under 16 years of age spend 42% more.

Average monthly costs vary depending on the age and the type of householder. As in 2012, households where the main wage-earner is 45-54 years old, spend more - 124.7% of the average monthly spending, and those where the householder is aged 75 or more - 56.3 percent.

Households living in rural areas spend € 1,249.90 per month, and those in urban regions -  € 1,594.72.

Data from the study indicates that:

The number of households having:

• a freezer in their principal residence (+3%)
• a computer in their principal residence (+3%)
• at least one car (+1.3%) and the number of cars decreased by 0.1%
• at least one mobile telephone (0.4%)

is increasing.

The number of households that:

• use central heating (-31.3%)
• have a dishwasher (- 2.1%)
• have a landline (- 1.8%)
• have a garage (- 0.7%)
• own or rent additional or rural housing (-1.5%)

is decreasing.

Rich and poor

The expenditure of the richest 20% of the population is 5.7 times higher than the cost of the poorest 20% (5.9 in 2012) .

The proportion of the average equivalent cost per household for foodstuffs for the poorest 20 % of the population is estimated at 32.3% of household spending in the country, while the share of the richest 20% of the population is estimated at 13.5%.

Risk of poverty threatens 21% of the population.

The average monthly expenditure of poor households is estimated at 32.8% of the cost of those who are not considered poor. Poor households spend 33.6% of the budget on food, while with the non-poor it is 18.8%. Because of the composition of poor households (elderly, uninsured, etc.), health care costs amount to 9% of the budget, while with the non-poor they are 7%.