Lithuanians spend largest part of income on food in EU

Lithuanians spend the largest share of their income on food in the EU, a Sprinter tyrimai poll commissioned by Delfi shows.

Almost half of Lithuania’s population (48.5%) spend 26%-50% of their income on food. This data confirms Eurostat figures which show that Lithuanians spend the biggest part of their income on food in the EU.

“According to the latest Eurostat data (2014 m.), Food and non-alcoholic beverages share of total household expenditure in Lithuania is 23.3 percent. – The highest among the EU countries,“ said SEB bank family financial expert Julita Varanauskienė.

However, she said that, over time, that percentage was decreasing. In 2009 Lithuanian residents on average spent 25.3% of their income on food.

Varanauskienė highlighted the fact that if utility costs were added to the cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks, then Lithuanian residents would no longer have the highest proportion of income spend on day to day essentials in Europe.

On that basis, the average proportion of income Lithuanians spend would be 25.5%, while in Greece it would be 28.6%, Spain – 26.3%, and Portugal – 25.5%.

However, she admitted that the proportion of income Lithuanians have available to spend on durable goods, leisure and education was lower than most EU countries.

http://www.delfi.lt/verslas/mano-eurai/lietuviai-maistui-skiria-didziausia-dali-pajamu-taciau-yra-vienas-bet.d?id=71671334