Greek Wallets Tighten During Easter
- 14 years ago
In Greece, Easter time is traditionally when great feasts are enjoyed. Usually a variety of foods, desserts and drinks are prepared to celebrate this period of huge importance.
But this year, Greeks are cutting their spending because of their country’s financial difficulties. Shoppers are now looking around for better prices and waiting until the last minute in hope of getting a better deal.
This mum is a dentist with two young children.
[Dyonisia Georgakopoulou, mother of two]: (Female, Greek)
"We are being more careful than usual in our spending, we are buying only the necessary items this year. We now make choices, prices have become important because now we are being more careful.”
Two days before this year’s Easter, shoppers in Greece were only buying what they really needed for their celebrations. The General Consumers Federation says public spending is down by as much as 15 per cent.
[Yannis Anousakis, Federation's Vice President]: (male,Greek)
"A feeling of fear, danger, has been created among all levels of the public. And people are holding their wallets, hesitant, waiting, until they see better days.”
Last month, the Greek government announced a series of economic measures to reign in their massive debt. The measures include cuts to wage bonuses, such as slashing the Easter bonus by 10 per cent. Wage benefits were also cut with a freeze put onto wages and hiring.
But this year, Greeks are cutting their spending because of their country’s financial difficulties. Shoppers are now looking around for better prices and waiting until the last minute in hope of getting a better deal.
This mum is a dentist with two young children.
[Dyonisia Georgakopoulou, mother of two]: (Female, Greek)
"We are being more careful than usual in our spending, we are buying only the necessary items this year. We now make choices, prices have become important because now we are being more careful.”
Two days before this year’s Easter, shoppers in Greece were only buying what they really needed for their celebrations. The General Consumers Federation says public spending is down by as much as 15 per cent.
[Yannis Anousakis, Federation's Vice President]: (male,Greek)
"A feeling of fear, danger, has been created among all levels of the public. And people are holding their wallets, hesitant, waiting, until they see better days.”
Last month, the Greek government announced a series of economic measures to reign in their massive debt. The measures include cuts to wage bonuses, such as slashing the Easter bonus by 10 per cent. Wage benefits were also cut with a freeze put onto wages and hiring.