Furthermore, "four in ten respondents are unable to set aside even 5% of their income after deducting taxes", according to a statement reported by Notícias ao Minuto.

"In contrast, 16% of Portuguese admit to saving between 10% and 20% of their net salary, 10% reserve 20% to 30% and only 2% manage to save more than half of what they earn".

The conclusion is, therefore, that the "disposable income after expenses of Portuguese families has been decreasing since 2020, standing at 7.5% in the 1st quarter of 2023, 6.7 percentage points (p.p.) behind the Eurozone average (14.2%)".

What are the reasons? "Inflation, rising interest rates and failure to monitor salaries are the main causes of lost purchases, but also of a decrease in the savings and investment rate".

"When they manage to save, 64% of Portuguese people allocate this fraction of their income to cover potential unforeseen events, 36% to accumulate for retirement, and 30% to travel. Buying a house is part of the savings-investment intentions of two in ten respondents, followed by buying a car (11%) and spending on other consumer goods (10%)", concludes the same study.