Survey: Energy crisis forced 11% of people in Czechia to cut essential spending

The energy crisis forced 11 percent of households to significantly cut essential spending on healthcare or food. Another 46 percent had to cut some leisure activities or manage their family budget more carefully. This is according to an Ipsos survey seen by the Czech News Agency (CTK). Czechs are so far coping with the crisis better than they expected last year, with more than 44 percent managing their finances without making cuts. Energy-saving measures taken by more than half of households have also helped. However, concerns about further negative impacts of the crisis persist, so households will continue to make savings.

According to Ipsos, the latest survey results are more favourable than the expectations recorded last year as energy prices rose. This year, 11 percent of households said they had significantly cut essential spending on food, clothing or healthcare, or had to take out a loan. Last summer, as many as 38 percent of people expected to take such steps. Spending cuts on leisure activities, such as holidays or visits to cultural events and restaurants, were also less extensive than expected. By contrast, the share of people who did not cut their spending at all rose markedly compared with last year’s forecasts, from 8 percent to 44 percent.