Hardship worsens, 20% cannot afford basics

More than 20% of the nation could not afford basic comforts last year, nearly double the number in 2010 when the country’s debt crisis exploded, data showed on Monday.

In its study of living standards for 2013, statistics agency ELSTAT said it was not just poor people who could no longer afford basic necessities, such as being able to keep their homes warm or pay basic expenses.

However, the economy seems to be bottoming out, with Athens and its international lenders projecting it will pull out of recession and grow 0.6% this year.

The country’s six-year recession, exacerbated by fiscal austerity demanded by its international creditors, has wiped out about a quarter of the economy and sent unemployment up to nearly 28%, triggering mass protests.

The study showed that 20.3% of Greeks could not afford at least four out of nine conditions that define economic hardship, including a one-week vacation or eating chicken or meat every other day. The drop was more pronounced among those aged under 64.

The survey added that nearly a third could not afford to keep their homes warm, a frequent complaint after the government raised taxes on heating oil to boost state coffers amid the crisis.

“The lack of basic goods such as a washing machine, colour TV, a car and difficulty in meeting loan payments does not only affect the poor population but also a section of those who are not poor,” ELSTAT said.

More than a third of the population with consumer debt had a hard time servicing their loans, the study showed, highlighting why Greek banks continue to struggle with bad loans.