More than half of households live worse than a year ago

According to the latest GfK barometer research, households in Croatia still do not expect a better life.

Only about 6 percent of households have a slightly better financial situation than a year ago, 42 percent of households believe they have remained the same. However, for about 51 percent of households, their current financial situation is even worse than a year ago.
In the next year, about 12 percent of households hope that their financial situation will be at least a little better. About 43 percent of households estimate that their financial situation will remain approximately the same, but as many as 42 percent of households believe it will be even worse.
Worse finances compared to the previous year, above the national average, are reported by citizens in Slavonia (55 percent) and those with average monthly household incomes up to 3,500 kuna (65 percent). Conversely, the least are in Istria with the Coast (39 percent) and in Dalmatia (43 percent), as well as among households with incomes over 11,000 kuna (33 percent).

In Croatia, future – worse – financial conditions (in the next year) are most prominently highlighted in northern Croatia and Slavonia (about 50 percent) as well as respondents with household income up to 3,500 kuna per month (between 50 and 57 percent), and least in Istria with the Coast (33 percent) and Dalmatia (36 percent) as well as where monthly household incomes exceed 11,000 kuna (33 percent).
Half of households are barely making ends meet, primarily in Slavonia (61 percent), and least in Zagreb (35 percent). However, in Zagreb, there are also the most people who have to reduce their existing savings (about 17 percent) or have to incur additional debt (11 percent).

Those who stated that they will not be able to save at all this year are mostly respondents in Slavonia (about 74 percent). Conversely, the most will be able to save in Dalmatia (21 percent) and Zagreb (16 percent). The poor economic situation in the next year is most emphasized in Slavonia (75 percent).