Portuguese consumer saw their purchasing power increase by 2.3 percent in 2015, which was positive, but somewhat slower than the European average of 3.7 percent. Retailers absorbed 33.4 percent of the nation’s private consumption, according to a study by GfK. The group found that “Portuguese purchasing power grew more slowly than the EU average, reaching a value of €6,437 per capita due to a decrease in unemployment.”
The economy grew and unemployment fell in most countries, a development which is reflected “in the nominal values for purchasing power increasing by 3.7 percent on average in the European Union compared to the previous year.” In Portugal, retail turnover is expected to remain relatively stable this year, despite a slight decline of 0.3 percent. The GfK study found that “European consumers benefited from lower prices, as well as a good economic situation and an increase in private wealth.”
