Accuracy and housing disintegration of families – citizens prepare for a punitive vote

Greece is the negative “champion” in terms of accuracy, with its food inflation rate reaching 8.33% (5% per month in Europe). It is the second most expensive country, worse off even than war-torn Ukraine – only Malta is more expensive.

As far as Europe is concerned, Greece ranks second in terms of poverty and social exclusion, after Bulgaria.

Greece is among the top ten countries with the worst inflation rates in the world, along with Malawi and Zimbabwe, while regarding the housing crisis in our country, it continues and even deepens more and more. Real estate prices have increased by 35% to 40% from 2020 to date. On the other hand, rents have risen by up to 56% (in Attica the aforementioned negative record) in the last five years.

Pulse poll: Roofing and punctuality bring families to their knees, punitive vote coming in European elections

According to data from a new survey conducted by Pulse RC for the Athens Chamber of Commerce, the majority of Greeks who do not own their own homes are at a standstill due to skyrocketing rents, with the situation worsening by the minute.

At the same time, there is concern about rising commodity prices and pessimism about the future of the economy.

What is also striking is the finding regarding the upcoming European elections, where less than half (47%) say they will vote in the same way as they did in the national elections, while 15% say they will vote to send a message of protest.

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The survey, which was conducted between February 28 and March 11, 2024 on a sample of 1,052 adults, explored a wide range of issues such as the economy, the upcoming European elections, the housing problem, recent changes in electricity tariffs, and farmers' issues. , along with the temporal development of economic indicators, all through the perspective of consumers, especially entrepreneurs/professionals.

The private sector (employees and self-employed) shows a decrease in anxiety (compared to the previous corresponding survey in September 2023) in the index of anxiety about the future and sustainability of their work, over the next six months.

15% will vote in the European elections with the aim of sending a message of protest

Specifically, 50% feel anxious (up from 54%), while 48% do not feel anxious (up from 44%). The two options are almost “equal” (-2%), although greater anxiety is reflected among professionals and business people: 56% are worried and 42% are not worried (-14%).

Residents of the Attica region are more optimistic (compared to the previous survey) in the optimism/pessimism index for the Greek economy.

60% of respondents are pessimistic about the course of the economy

In response to a question about how they see the path of the Greek economy in the coming months, they answered: 37% are optimistic (from 34%) and 60% are pessimistic (from 64%). However, the balance remains negative (-23%) and at the corresponding levels among entrepreneurs/professionals.

Although at a lower rate (65% “very important,” down from 69%), price increases and punctuality remain a major issue for almost everyone (including freelancers).

Basic goods (food, groceries, beverages, supermarkets) remain a source of concern for six out of ten households, and energy (electricity, fuel, heating) comes in second, but much less than the number one source of concern.

Housing is an important issue (40% “very important”, 11% “somewhat”) for most of those who responded that they do not own a home (62%). The picture is similar for businessmen and professionals, with one in three responding that they own their own residence.

With his eye on the European elections

Almost half of the participants (47%) responded that they would vote in the next European elections, the same way they voted in the national elections.

One in four responded that they would vote 'up', based on 'the best faces and suggestions', and 15% responded that they would vote 'to send a message or to punish'. Similar is the ranking of options and percentages among business people/professionals.

On the table is the electricity bill

“Neither easy nor difficult” is the common response to how they arrived at the choice of bill colour.

One in three (33%) found the choice (more or less) difficult, while one in five (20%) found the process (more or less) easy. Similar percentages are also recorded among entrepreneurs/professionals.

They know the issues that concern Greek farmers and the reasons for their protest, 87% of them answered. Most of them (70%) deal with them positively, compared to 17% who view them negatively! The picture is similar, with minor differences, for self-employed workers.

See the pulse survey in detail here