Greeks Tighten Their Wallets as Card Spending Drops

Greek households are feeling the pinch, a trend reflected in the Bank of Greece’s Financial Stability Report for October 2025, released on Wednesday, Oct. 22. While card payments are on the rise, the average amount spent per transaction has dropped noticeably, signaling that citizens continue to use cards—but for smaller, more carefully calculated purchases.

This trend goes beyond banking statistics; it paints a clear picture of the economic strain on Greek families.

More Cards, Smaller Transactions

In the first half of 2025, the number of active cards rose 5.3% from 2024, reaching 21.6 million. Yet overall usage remained stagnant. Card transactions totaled 1.325 billion, nearly unchanged from 1.326 billion in the previous semester, while the total value fell 5% to 57 billion euros.

The average number of transactions per card decreased from 65 to 61—67 for debit cards and 29 for credit cards. Meanwhile, the average value per card fell 9%, from 2,904 to 2,631 euros.

The decline was sharper for debit cards, whose average transaction value fell 10% to 2,865 euros, while credit cards dropped 2.6% to 1,317 euros. The average amount spent per transaction slipped from 45 to 43 euros, roughly a 4.5% decrease.

This reduction is not simply a change in payment habits; it reflects the difficulty households face in keeping up with rising prices. Saying “Greeks are spending less” does not imply newfound frugality—it indicates that many cannot afford to spend more.

Every smaller transaction reveals a larger reality: families trimming shopping lists, professionals scrutinizing expenses, and consumers struggling to make ends meet. That two-euro decrease per transaction is a subtle yet telling marker of a society navigating inflation with caution, resilience, and pragmatism.

Source: tovima.com