For six in ten Greek households, monthly income lasts only 18 days, highlighting growing pressure on both middle and lower-income families, according to a survey by the Institute of Small Enterprises of the General Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants of Greece (IME GSEVEE).
The survey indicates that cumulative pressures from inflation and unrecovered income losses from the financial crisis continue to strain households and contribute to ongoing emigration.
Despite slowing inflation and rising wages in 2025, the survey found that households’ resilience is being exhausted. Consumer confidence in Greece fell to -50.3 points in January from -47 points in December, with households reporting worsening expectations for both their own finances and the national economy, while major purchase intentions declined.
According to the survey, 62.1% of households said their monthly income is insufficient for the entire month, the highest level recorded in the survey’s history. On average, monthly income covers 23 days for all households, but for those whose income runs out early, it lasts only 18 days. The comparable figures in the 2024 survey were 60% of households and 19 days.
To meet basic needs, households are reducing discretionary spending: 39.3% cut back on going out, 35.2% buy fewer clothes and shoes, and 34.6% take fewer vacation days. Reductions also affect essential expenses, including healthcare (10.2%), insurance and car maintenance (10.1%), and education (8.5%).
The survey also found that 10.9% of households reported that at least one member has emigrated for work in the last five years. The so-called “brain regain” remains limited, with only 6.6% of households reporting the return of a member from abroad in the same period.