Bulgaria, Greece, Romania: People think twice before buying something ᐉ News from Fakti.bg – World
Food, rent and energy prices are rising unstoppably all over Europe. How much did life in Bulgaria become more expensive, what can pensioners in Romania or Greece afford? DV gathered information from several countries.
Poland
Jan Schmigelski runs a restaurant in Warsaw that is popular with both students and tourists. “Inflation has hit us hard,” says the 28-year-old. In June, Poland recorded inflation of 15.5 percent – the highest in 25 years. “Just within a year, we have to increase prices by 10 to 20 percent. The prices of oil and meat increased in particular. Visitors are still coming, but it is clear that they are struggling financially and trying to save,” says Jan.
Before, almost no one was interested in the promotions, and now the guests mostly ordered the cheaper drinks. “Hard costs – electricity, social security and rent – are increasing sharply. In the end, there is almost no profit left,” says Jan, who still has no intention of giving up.
Pensioners Barbara and Czeslaw Geszak are not so confident. Until now, their pensions have been enough for a relatively carefree life, but the consequences of record inflation are already being felt. “Until recently, I paid two zlotys (€0.43) for a kilo of sugar, now it costs more than eight zlotys (€1.78),” complains Barbara. She used to make jam with the fruits from the garden, but this cannot be without sugar. The two also gave up on the planned purchase of a new car.
Bulgaria
Prices also increased in Bulgaria. According to data from the Statistical Institute, inflation in June 2022 reached almost 17 percent – the highest level for the last 24 years. Some basic food products rose in price the most: flour, sugar, oil, but also coffee. “I used to buy half a kilogram for BGN 5.30, but now it costs BGN 7.85,” says one user.
“Prices in stores are increasing by a third,” says Galya, who sells fruits and vegetables in a shop on the Black Sea. She herself has not changed the prices compared to last summer. “And my suppliers have not put higher prices. Only the prices of raspberries and blackberries have risen, as this year the pickers want higher daily wages – between 25 and 30 euros.”
The increase in prices is also visible in the restaurants and hotels along the Black Sea, as a result of which there is a noticeable outflow of tourists. As Galya tells – no cook took a job for less than 100 BGN a day, until last summer they took half. She believes that the price increase was created artificially – by greedy middlemen. Economist Georgi Ganev, for his part, is convinced that the inflation bubble will burst soon. “Once the free money supply now in circulation runs out, traders will be forced to lower prices,” he predicted.
Greece
In August, Athens looks deserted – people have left the countryside or the resorts on the islands, which after two years of the pandemic are now enjoying unprecedented tourist interest. “We are happy about the tourists, but we are worried about the price increase,” shared the taxi driver Napoleon. Inflation in the country for the first time in 28 years has reached double digits – in July it was 11.6%.
Greeks, who earn an average of 966 euros a month, have been hit mostly by food, electricity and fuel prices. “To save gas, many taxi drivers don’t turn on the air conditioning, even though it’s extremely hot,” explains Napoleon. Drivers who earned less than €30,000 last year received a petrol price subsidy from the government. “I received 200 euros and I was happy. However, this has to work 12-13 hours a day, which is still not enough to be able to buy everything I want,” says Napoleon.
Vegetable trader Nikos believes that the state should do more for agricultural production. “The prices of fertilizers, pesticides and gasoline are increasing by 30 percent. We, the marketers, try not to pass this increase directly to the consumers, because they just don’t make it either. However, we are forced to raise prices.” The increase in food products in July was 13 percent compared to the same month last year. “Customers no longer buy spontaneously, but look at prices for a long time and increasingly calculate what they can afford,” Nikos says.
Romania
In June 2022, inflation in Romania was 15%, energy prices have risen particularly strongly. Until January 1, 2021, the six million private households paid uniform and subsidized state prices, after which the market was liberalized. There are now more than 100 suppliers, but the competition has not led to a drop in prices. Quite the opposite – between August 2020 and August 2021, energy prices were increased by 25 percent. And with the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, prices continue to rise.
This mostly affects retirees like Daniel B., who lives in a small town in western Romania. A year ago, he replaced his old wood-burning stove with modern electric heating. But since then, electricity costs have about quadrupled and Daniel has to spend more than a third of his pension on gas and electricity alone. He is pleased that he was able to find a cheap supplier and wonders how his country, which has its own gas resources, has one of the highest tariffs in Europe. On July 27, the price per megawatt of electricity in Romania is 516 euros, while in Poland it is 235 euros and in Finland – 83.
Electricity, gasoline and many food products have gone up in price, such as the traditional local cheese. “We’ve been selling less lately,” says Aurora, who works at the market in downtown Bucharest. “Maybe it’s because young people have gone on holidays, but the pensioners have stayed in the city, and they’re thinking twice before buying anything, simply because everything has gone up in price.”
This mostly affects retirees like Daniel B., who lives in a small town in western Romania. A year ago, he replaced his old wood-burning stove with modern electric heating. But since then, electricity costs have about quadrupled and Daniel has to spend more than a third of his pension on gas and electricity alone. He is pleased that he was able to find a cheap supplier and wonders how his country, which has its own gas resources, has one of the highest tariffs in Europe. On July 27, the price per megawatt of electricity in Romania is 516 euros, while in Poland it is 235 euros and in Finland – 83.
Electricity, gasoline and many food products have gone up in price, such as the traditional local cheese. “We’ve been selling less lately,” says Aurora, who works at the market in downtown Bucharest. “Maybe it’s because young people have gone on holidays, but the pensioners have stayed in the city, and they’re thinking twice before buying anything, simply because everything has gone up in price.”
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Assessment 3.7 from 3 the voice.