Belgian households' purchasing power remains under pressure, consumer protection organisation Testachats' annual consumer barometer shows. However, the number of households in severe financial stress has dropped.
The barometer surveys Belgian households about their financial situation and their difficulty accounting for certain expenses every year. In 2024, more families indicated that their financial expenses were under control compared to 2023 (44% compared to 41%).
"This is mainly due to falling energy prices and falling inflation in the supermarket," Testachats' spokesperson Laura Clays noted.
Six categories of expenditure are examined: housing, health, food, mobility, leisure and education. "Belgian families indicated that they have had fewer financial problems for the second year in a row, and in five out of six categories. Only education remains a financially challenging expense."
The number of households experiencing slight financial stress fell from 49.8% in 2023 to 48% in 2024, while 8% of those surveyed reported difficulty paying expenses. This is the lowest level since the 2018 barometer.
Still, the situation remains concerning. Affording food remains difficult for a quarter of Belgians. "Our barometer clearly shows that the supermarket bill remains a financial pain point for many families," said Clays. "Our new government must pay sufficient attention to this, for example by checking that supermarket price increases only happen when they can be justified and that prices are not presented misleadingly."
Additionally, 43% of households indicate that the maintenance of a home is financially difficult. Clays also emphasised that affording leisure expenses remains challenging for many households. "More than half of Belgian families have trouble affording an annual holiday." Day trips and restaurant visits are also a challenge: 47% and 46% of Belgians respectively cannot afford these.
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The situation varies greatly depending on the type of household. More than half (53%) of single-parent families experience financial difficulties. Meanwhile, 42% of pensioners in couples have trouble getting by financially, as do 52% of those living alone.
The level of education also plays a role: 61% have no financial difficulties when both parents have been to university, compared with 52% in households where neither parent has been to university.
