According to the latest annual Deco Proteste Barometer, which surveyed almost seven thousand respondents in Portugal, between December 2023 and February 2024, 75% admitted having experienced difficulties paying their bills and 7% of families were in a critical situation.

The housing crisis emerges as one of the main factors in the financial strain of Portuguese families last year, suppressing any relief provided by the decline in inflation. According to the consumer protection association, house rent was the expense that increased the most in 2023 (+11% compared to 2022), leading to 23% of tenants admitting to struggling to pay their rent.

In turn, and given the increase in interest rates, almost 28% of families faced difficulties in paying their bank loans. Loans appear as the third expense that increased the most (6% compared to 2022) in 2023, behind restaurants (7%).

In addition to income, the Deco Proteste barometer indicates that around a third (31%) of families revealed that they had experienced “much more” difficulties in paying essential expenses — such as mobility, health and food — while 4% said it was “an impossible mission ”. Only 6% admit that they have not felt any impact from the rise in the prices of goods.