Greek Citizens Face Stagnant Wages Amid Rising Inflation

Greece's economic growth has not translated into real income gains for its citizens due to high inflation. According to recent data, Greece's cumulative increase in consumer prices from 2021-25 is estimated at 21.4%, lower than the eurozone average of 22.6%. The median disposable income in Greece is only 60.8% of the EU average, and despite a 33.8% cumulative increase between 2021-25, the country's income gap with Spain and Portugal has widened.

The National Economy and Finance Ministry had predicted inflation rates of 3.2% for 2026 and 2.4% for 2027, but these numbers are now expected to be revised upwards due to high energy prices. This means that citizens will need larger income increases than the projected inflation rate to avoid losing purchasing power.

The government is designing a support package to help vulnerable populations, taking into account the need for significant salary hikes to keep pace with inflation.