An inquiry into the quality of life
conducted by the National Statistics Institute last year shows that nearly two
in five households, accounting for 37.6% of the total population, are having a
hard time covering the costs of living. The figure reaches as high as 80% of
total households, when taking into account the coverage of daily costs, the
Institute further reports. On the other hand, one in five households find it
easy to cover living costs.
Of those households experiencing difficulties,
47.4% are run by women, 44.7% by senior citizens and 57.1% are made of two
adults with three or more children in their care. Additionally, 59.9% of
households experiencing difficulties have an unemployed as the family provider,
while 52.6% are being provided for by someone working in the agriculture
sector. Still, in terms of covering important running costs, such as utility
expenses or bank loans, the study reveals that a third of households are
incurring repeated arrears, mainly due to their substandard financial
situation.
Most arrears last year were reported
for electricity, household upkeep and mobile phone services bills. As regards
the family provider, families living on unemployment benefits are by far
experiencing the most difficulties, with a share of 59.5% of the total number
of households that were unable to pay their dues. Arrears are equally reported
largely in the case of families with children, especially those made up of two
adults and three or more children in their care, or in the case of families
with a single parent with at least a child in his care. The estimation of the
minimum level of income that would allow households to cover living costs is
directly linked to the degree they cope with daily costs. More than a quarter
of households consider they can cover livings costs with a minimum net income
of 208 to 416 euros, but three in five households need at least 416 euros to
cover monthly expenses. Over a third of households consider the minimum monthly
income required to cover running expenses should be higher than 625 euros.
(Translated by V. Palcu)