Europeans feeling poorer

Three quarters of Europeans on average believe that poverty has increased in their country over the past year. The ratio of those who say it is a constant struggle to pay household bills is one in six.

These are the key results from a new Eurobarometer survey on social impacts of the economic crisis.

In austerity-struck Greece, 85% of respondents saw their country as poorer. The feeling was almost that high in France and Bulgaria, while 77% of Romanians and 75% of Italians shared a perception of more poverty.

Many Europeans fear they will not be able to keep their current job in the next 12 months or get a new one if they are laid off. They also anticipate lower pension benefits or later retirement.

Around three in every 10 Europeans reported more difficulty in paying for healthcare, childcare or long-term care for themselves or their relatives in the past six months.

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