According to Eurostat, household real income per capita in the euro area rose 0.1% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first, while real consumption per capita increased by 0.3%. In the EU as a whole, income also rose 0.1% and consumption 0.4%. The household saving rate fell to 14.2% in the euro area and 13.9% in the EU. Greece is not included in the detailed country figures, which are published only for states with GDP above 1% of the EU total.

What it means: The figures show European households spending more than their income is growing and covering the gap by saving less. This supports consumption for now, but it cannot continue indefinitely unless real incomes rise faster. The small rise in income came mainly from property income and transfers rather than wages, while inflation, especially in fuel, limits purchasing power. For Greek businesses that export goods or services to Europe, such as food, tourism and manufactured goods, steady but restrained demand means customers are more price-sensitive. The fall in saving in countries such as Italy, Finland and Hungary shows households in several markets already drawing on their reserves. For tourism, which depends on Europeans travelling, this means demand for next season will be affected by whether incomes recover. For the domestic market, euro area data give a general picture, but Greek wages and prices follow their own path. ELSTAT's own national accounts remain the reference for Greek households.

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