Greek households feel the cost-of-living squeeze

Greece's economy may be growing, but for many households the cost-of-living squeeze is still being felt every day — and nowhere more clearly than at the petrol pump.

Before most of Athens is awake, delivery rider Vaios Kandris is already on the road. But every shift now begins with the same calculation: how much fuel can he afford?

"Fuel used to be just another expense," he says. "Now it decides how long I can work. A few years ago petrol was cheaper. Now, with everything else increasing, I can barely make ends meet."

At a petrol station in Athens, Kandris does not fill his tank. Instead, he adds only a few euros' worth – just enough to get him through the day.

"I put in three or four euros, only what is necessary," he says.

For workers like Kandris, fuel is not a luxury. His motorbike is his livelihood. Every extra euro spent at the pump is money that cannot be spent on food, rent, electricity or other household bills.

Growth overshadowed by inflation 

The pressure reflects a wider problem for Greek consumers.

Inflation reached 3.8% in August, while housing costs – including rent, electricity, gas and other fuels – rose 9.7% compared with a year earlier. Transport costs have also increased.

That means that even as the Greek economy expands at around 2%, many households say their disposable income is still being squeezed.

The government says it is responding. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said measures are being introduced to reduce the burden of energy and fuel costs, including support for heating oil.

"Our objective is a price below €1.75 [$1.97] per liter," Mitsotakis said.

The government is also increasing the heating allowance for households and providing a 20-cent reduction in diesel prices during the first half of October.

But consumer groups argue that the measures do not fully compensate for the sharp increases already faced by families.

Apostolos Raftopoulos, president of the Greek Consumers' Association of Employees, said that even if prices fall to around $1.80 or $1.90 per liter, consumers would still be paying significantly more than last year.

For Kandris, however, the economic debate comes down to something much simpler.

How much can he earn in a day? How much of that income goes straight back into his fuel tank?

And after the bills are paid, how much is actually left?