38% of Europeans say they are no longer able to have three meals a day on a regular basis

38% of Europeans say they are no longer able to have three meals a day on a regular basis.

The second European Barometer on Poverty and Precariousness delved into Europeans' purchasing capabilities, revealing a decline over the past three years. A majority of respondents reported skipping meals and facing challenging financial decisions.

Conducted by Ipsos for French Secours Populaire with a sample of 10,000 participants, the survey found that 29% described their financial situation as "precarious," with any unforeseen expenses posing a significant challenge.

Nearly half of the surveyed Europeans expressed a high risk of slipping into a precarious situation in the coming months due to escalating prices and relatively stagnant wages. Eurostat reported a 17% at-risk-of-poverty rate for the total population of the EU in 2021.

Only 15% of respondents felt confident and unaffected by the need to closely monitor their daily expenses.

Widespread inflation across various sectors compelled individuals to make "complicated choices," such as skipping meals despite hunger. Almost one-third of Europeans admitted to foregoing a meal when hungry, with notable instances in Greece and Moldova.

Other compromises included refraining from using heaters, borrowing money, and neglecting health issues due to rising costs.

A June survey by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) identified 5.7 million low-income households in the UK lacking sufficient funds for food, describing it as a "horrendous new normal."

From relying on discounted food to turning to food banks run by large associations, the impact of rising food prices varied across surveyed individuals. Thirty-eight percent reported being unable to have three meals a day regularly, while only 42% claimed to have never skipped a meal due to financial constraints.

Parents faced particularly challenging situations, with 21% reporting instances of "not eating enough" to provide for their children.

Despite a slowdown in overall inflation figures, food and ingredient prices have yet to decrease, contributing to the sustained diminished ability to purchase groceries. Europe experienced tripled inflation figures in 2022, with the highest growth rate ever recorded, primarily driven by soaring consumer prices for housing, water, gas, and other charges, which increased by 18% within a year.

Many Europeans not only described their financial condition as extremely difficult but also acknowledged being on the brink when grappling with inflation.