How are Europeans coping with energy and fuel bills?

Across Europe, financial insecurity is becoming a long-term feature of people’s living conditions, with energy poverty further aggravating their vulnerability.

Around 29% of Europeans say they are living in precarious circumstances, with 73% of Europeans fearing they will not be able to afford fuel costs, according to an annual survey by Ipsos and Secours populaire français.

The research interviewed 10,000 people aged 18 and over in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the United Kingdom and Serbia.

Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict have aggravated rising energy and fuel prices in Europe.

Amid renewed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Brent crude topped $100 a barrel on Wednesday (9 September) and held firm on Thursday morning.

Among the 10 European countries studied, Greek, Italian, and Portuguese respondents are the most worried about fuel expenses.

Fuel and diesel prices rose to a record high in Portugal on 7 September. This is the biggest jump in fuel prices in the last four years and the highest diesel price ever.

Copying mechanisms

Over the past year, more than one in three Europeans has sacrificed significant expenses, such as food and healthcare, to cope with their energy or fuel bills, according to the study.

People in Moldova and Greece sacrifice up to three times more than people in Germany and the UK.

When confronted with fuel costs, the first trade-offs involve holidays, followed by visits to relatives living far away.

Three-tenths of Europeans are also giving up on taking their car to go to work, even if it takes them much longer to get there.

Alarmingly, 23% of respondents have skipped out on medical appointments due to rising costs.

In addition, Europeans are adopting many other strategies to help cope with energy bills, from lowering or turning off the heating to taking cold showers.

Almost seven in 10 respondents have implemented at least one measure to reduce their energy bills, while slightly more than five in 10 respondents claim to implement several.

For example, French and Greek respondents are the most likely to turn off the heating in certain rooms, while Moldovans choose not to use certain appliances.