Greek households are the most pessimistic in the European Union about their financial prospects, with most expecting their situation to worsen and planning to cut back on spending, according to the latest consumer survey.
Research by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) shows Greek consumers remain deeply concerned about the cost of living, with many struggling to make ends meet. The findings point to mounting financial pressure at the start of the new year, as households grow more cautious about their budgets and major purchases.
Majority expect finances to worsen
About 60% of households expect their financial situation to slightly or significantly deteriorate over the next 12 months, while only 4% foresee a small improvement. Negative expectations about household finances strengthened in January, with the relevant indicator falling to -46.4 from -42.6.
Looking back at the past year, 67% of households said their financial situation worsened, while just 2% reported a slight improvement.
Growing concern about the national economy
Pessimism extends to views of the broader economy. Seven in 10 consumers expect Greece’s economic situation to worsen over the next year, while 19% anticipate stability. The indicator measuring expectations for the country’s economy declined to -55.4 in January, from -50.1 previously.
Overall consumer confidence in Greece weakened slightly in January, falling to -50.3 from -47 in December. Greek consumers remain the most pessimistic in the EU by a wide margin. By comparison, Romania and Slovakia follow with significantly higher readings of -34.6 and -25.1, respectively. The EU average stands at -11.7 and the eurozone at -12.4.
Households rein in spending
Consumers are also scaling back spending plans. The indicator measuring intentions for major purchases, such as furniture and appliances, declined to -50.4 from -47.4.
Six in 10 consumers say they will make fewer or far fewer major purchases in the coming year, while only 4% expect to spend more. Intentions to save also edged down slightly.
Inflation remains a key risk
At the same time, the Bank of Greece warns that inflation will remain a major policy challenge. In its latest economic note, the central bank projects that inflation will average 2.2% in 2026–2027 but will temporarily accelerate to 2.5% in 2028 due to the rollout of the European emissions trading system (ETS2), which is expected to raise energy, fuel, and heating costs.
The central bank identifies inflation as the top short-term economic policy challenge and notes that households’ real disposable income fell by 1.4% in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting the impact of higher prices.
Taken together, the data highlight the financial strain facing Greek households, as persistent inflation and uncertainty weigh on confidence, spending, and income.
