Greek households came under greater financial pressure in 2025, as consumer spending rose faster than disposable income, further limiting their ability to save.
Figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) on annual non-financial sector accounts show the gap between growth in income and consumer spending, as well as a deterioration in the household saving rate.
Gross disposable income of households and non-profit institutions serving households (NPISHs) reached €165.4bn in 2025, up from €159.4bn in 2024, an increase of 3.7%.
Over the same period, final consumption expenditure rose by 5.2% to €171.8bn, from €163.3bn a year earlier.
The difference in the rates of change points to pressure on the balance between income and consumption. Disposable income increased by €6bn, while consumer spending rose by €8.5bn.
According to ELSTAT, consumer spending exceeded disposable income by about €6.4bn in 2025, compared with a gap of about €3.9bn in 2024.
Negative saving rate falls further
This trend is also reflected in the saving rate of households and NPISHs, which fell to -3.9% in 2025 from -2.4% in 2024.
That represents a deterioration of 1.5 percentage points in a year. As defined by ELSTAT, the rate is gross saving as a share of gross disposable income.
A negative rate means that, for the sector as a whole, consumer spending exceeds disposable income. The gap is financed through savings from previous years, borrowing or the sale of assets.
The broader economic picture
Alongside developments among households, ELSTAT’s accounts show changes in other key sectors of the economy.
Among non-financial corporations, the investment rate, calculated as gross fixed capital formation as a share of gross value added, fell to 25.3% in 2025 from 26.3% in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Greek economy’s net balance with the rest of the world improved. The deficit in the external balance of goods and services narrowed to €11.6bn from €13.6bn in 2024.
Similarly, the economy’s net borrowing from the rest of the world fell to €8.6bn from €13.8bn the previous year. Despite the improvement, the Greek economy continues to borrow from abroad, with an overall financing need.
* See the accompanying material column for details.