According to the survey “Statistical expenditures of Poles in the Pandemic” by the National Debt Register (KRD), Poles first of all pay the rent (45%) and loan instalments (33%). They also pay the costs of energy (26%) as well as credit purchases (14%).

Lower places on the list of expenses are taken by water and gas as well as property tax (5% each). At the end of the payment list, heating and fuel for the car (4% each) are priorities. The Internet, television, telephone, garbage collection and public transport are in the same expenses group (2%each).

According to the survey, almost every third household has to reduce expenses. Less educated and older people, and therefore more often unemployed, as well as those with lower monthly incomes, evaluate their current financial situation worse in comparison to the time before the pandemic.

Considering the expenditure structure, the budget of Polish households is the most burdened by food and non-alcoholic beverages (18%) as well as apartment use, including electricity, gas and water (17%) that make up more than a third of all costs in total.

The third place in the basket is taken by medicines and medical visits (8%). Fuel and tickets for journeys consume 7%, i.e. the same as telephone and internet bills. Home furnishings along with running a household are 6% each, as well as clothing and footwear. Loan and credits instalments are in a further position, accounting for 5% of an average budget.

In the structure of Poles’ spending, 4% is spent on education, recreation and culture. The share of restaurants and hotels expenditures is the lowest – 3%. About 4% are savings.

The nationwide survey ” Statistical expenditures of Poles in the Pandemic” was carried out in December 2021, at the request of the KRD, using the internet interviewing on a representative sample of 1004 Poles aged 18-74. They were realized by TGM Research – a global leader in insight technology, specializing in online research.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński