ONE in two households in Greece are struggling to meet their energy needs in recent months, according to the results of a survey released yesterday. 

The survey carried out by Kapa Research in May for Nicos Poulantzas Institute, an Athens-based think tank, found that 62% of the households are unable to adequately heat their homes in the winter and 51% unable to properly cool their homes in the summer, said Xinhua.

Thirty-six per cent of the respondents said they have cut back on expenses on food and clothing to be able to pay energy bills, while three out of 10 households are falling behind on the payments of their utility bills.

Amid the international energy crisis, Greek citizens are faced with enormous increases in energy costs lately.

According to the latest data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (Elstat) for May this year, natural gas prices increased by 172.7% compared with 2021, electricity prices by 80.2% and heating oil by 65.1%. 

Record-high inflation is meanwhile decreasing Greeks’ available income. Greece’s annual inflation rate jumped to 11.3% in May 2022, reaching a 29-year record for the country, Elstat said a few days ago. – Bernama, June 26, 2022.