Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.

Inflation Rate in India decreased to 2.82 percent in May from 3.16 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - India Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The UK inflation rate was 3.4 percent in May 2025, down from 3.5 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since February 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.

Annual indexes for major components and special aggregates of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), for Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. Data are presented for the last five years. The base year for the index is 2002=100.

In economics, the inflation rate is a measure of the change in price of a basket of goods. The most common measure being the consumer price index. It is the percentage rate of change in price level over time, and also indicates the rate of decrease in the purchasing power of money. The annual rate of inflation for 2023, was 4.1 percent higher in the United States when compared to the previous year. More information on inflation and the consumer price index can be found on our dedicated topic page. Additionally, the monthly rate of inflation in the United States can be accessed here. Inflation and purchasing power Inflation is a key economic indicator, and gives economists and consumers alike a look at changes in prices in the wider economy. For example, if an average pair of socks costs 100 dollars one year and 105 dollars the following year, the inflation rate is five percent. This means the amount of goods an individual can purchase with a unit of currency has decreased. This concept is often referred to as purchasing power. The data presents the average rate of inflation in a year, whereas the monthly measure of inflation measures the change in prices compared with prices one year ago. For example, monthly inflation in the U.S. reached a peak in June 2022 at 9.1 percent. This means that prices were 9.1 percent higher than they were in June of 2021. The purchasing power is the extent to which a person has available funds to make purchases. The Big Mac Index has been published by The Economist since 1986 and exemplifies purchasing power on a global scale, allowing us to see note the differences between different countries currencies. Switzerland for example, has the most expensive Big Mac in the world, costing consumers 6.71 U.S. dollars as of July 2022, whereas a Big Mac cost 5.15 dollars in the United States, and 4.77 dollars in the Euro area. One of the most important tools in influencing the rate of inflation is interest rates. The Federal Reserve of the United States has the capacity to make changes to the federal interest rate . Changes to the rate of inflation are thought to be an imbalance between supply and demand. After COVID-19 related lockdowns came to an end there was a sudden increase in demand for goods and services with consumers having more funds than usual thanks to reduced spending during lockdown and government funded economic support. Additionally, supply-chain related bottlenecks also due to lockdowns around the world and the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant that there was a decrease in the supply of goods and services. By increasing the interest rate, the Federal Reserve aims to reduce spending, and thus bring demand back into balance with supply.

In 2020, the average consumer price index (CPI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was 106.73, implying a 6.7 percent increase in the price level compared to the base year of 2014. This was a slight year-on-year decrease, as the country’s 2019 CPI amounted to 109 index points.

Consumer price index (CPI) The consumer price index measures the changes in prices for a representative basket of goods and services, divided into several major categories, including food and beverages, housing, medical care, and education. In 2020, the CPI of beverages and tobacco in the UAE was estimated at 204.91 points, the highest among all categories of consumer spending that year. Meanwhile, the CPI for housing was around 100.63 index points that year.

Inflation rate The CPI is a frequently used indicator for inflation, as a positive change in the general price level suggests rising costs of living and declining purchasing power. In 2022, the nation’s inflation rate was projected to increase by nearly four percent compared to the previous year. Recent surges in the global inflation rate are likely attributable to accelerating oil prices, induced by the 2022 energy crisis.

This map shows the median household income in the United States in 2012. Information for the 2012 Median Household Income is an estimate of income for calendar year 2012. Income amounts are expressed in current dollars, including an adjustment for inflation or cost-of-living increases. The median is the value that divides the distribution of household income into two equal parts. The median household income in the United States overall was $50,157 in 2012. This map shows Esri's 2012 estimates using Census 2010 geographies.

The geography depicts States at greater than 50m scale, Counties at 7.5m to 50m scale, Census Tracts at 200k to 7.5m scale, and Census Block Groups at less than 200k scale.

Scale Range: 1:591,657,528 down to 1:72,224.

For more information on this map, including the terms of use, visit us online.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

Background:
A household food consumption and expenditure survey has been conducted each year in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) since 1940. At that time the National Food Survey (NFS) covered a sample drawn solely from urban working-class households, but this was extended to a fully demographically representative sample in 1950. From 1957 onwards the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) provided information on all household expenditure patterns including food expenditure, with the NFS providing more detailed information on food consumption and expenditure. The NFS was extended to cover Northern Ireland from 1996 onwards. In April 2001 these surveys were combined to form the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), which completely replaced both series. From January 2008, the EFS became known as the Living Costs and Food (LCF) module of the Integrated Household Survey (IHS). As a consequence of this change, the questionnaire was altered to accommodate the insertion of a core set of questions, common to all of the separate modules which together comprised the IHS. Some of these core questions are simply questions which were previously asked in the same or a similar format on all of the IHS component surveys. For further information on the LCF questionnaire, see Volume A of the LCF 2008 User Guide, held with SN 6385. Further information about the LCF, including links to published reports based on the survey, may be found by searching for 'Living Costs and Food Survey' on the ONS website. Further information on the NFS and Living Costs and Food Module of the IHS can be found by searching for 'Family Food' on the GOV.UK website.

History:
The LCF (then EFS) was the result of more than two years' development work to bring together the FES and NFS; both survey series were well-established and important sources of information for government and the wider community, and had charted changes and patterns in spending and food consumption since the 1950s. Whilst the NFS and FES series are now finished, users should note that previous data from both series are still available from the UK Data Archive, under GNs 33071 (NFS) and 33057 (FES).

Purpose of the LCF
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has overall project management and financial responsibility for the LCF, while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sponsors the food data element. As with the FES and NFS, the LCF continues to be primarily used to provide information for the Retail Prices Index, National Accounts estimates of household expenditure, analysis of the effect of taxes and benefits, and trends in nutrition. The results are multi-purpose, however, providing an invaluable supply of economic and social data. The merger of the two surveys also brings benefits for users, as a single survey on food expenditure removes the difficulties of reconciling data from two sources.

Design and methodology The design of the LCF is based on the old FES, although the use of new processing software by the data creators has resulted in a dataset which differs from the previous structure. The most significant change in terms of reporting expenditure, however, is the introduction of the European Standard Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP), in place of the codes previously used. An additional level of hierarchy has been developed to improve the mapping to the previous codes. The LCF was conducted on a financial year basis from 2001, then moved to a calendar year basis from January 2006 (to complement the IHS) until 2015-16, when the financial year survey was reinstated at the request of users. Therefore, whilst SN 5688 covers April 2005 - March 2006, SN 5986 covers January-December 2006. Subsequent years cover January-December until 2014. SN 8210 returns to the financial year survey and currently covers April 2015 - March 2016.

Northern Ireland sample
Users should note that, due to funding constraints, from January 2010 the Northern Ireland (NI) sample used for the LCF was reduced to a sample proportionate to the NI population relative to the UK.

Family Food database:
'Family Food' is an annual publication which provides detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes derived from both household and eating out food and drink. Data is collected for a sample of households in the United Kingdom using self-reported diaries of all purchases, including food eaten out, over a two week period. Where possible quantities are recorded in the diaries but otherwise estimated. Energy and nutrient intakes are calculated using standard nutrient composition data for each of some 500 types of food. Current estimates are based on data collected in the Family Food...

Inflation Rate in Georgia increased to 4 percent in June from 3.50 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Georgia Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about India Consumer Price Index CPI growth

• India Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth was measured at 3.6 % YoY in Feb 2025, compared with a rate of 4.3 % in the previous month.
• India Consumer Price Index growth data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1958 to Feb 2025, with an averaged number of 6.6 % YoY.
• The data reached an all-time high of 34.6 % YoY in Sep 1974 and a record low of -11.3 % YoY in Jun 1976.

CEIC calculates Consumer Price Index Growth from monthly Consumer Price Index. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation provides Consumer Price Index with base 2012=100. Consumer Price Index Growth prior to January 2012 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund and covers Industrial workers only. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Consumer Price Index CPI in India increased to 194.20 points in June from 193 points in May of 2025. This dataset provides - India Consumer Price Index (CPI) - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Ireland inflation rate for 2024 was 2.11%, a 4.19% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Ireland inflation rate for 2023 was <strong>6.30%</strong>, a <strong>1.53% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Ireland inflation rate for 2022 was <strong>7.83%</strong>, a <strong>5.49% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Ireland inflation rate for 2021 was <strong>2.34%</strong>, a <strong>2.67% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly. The Laspeyres formula is generally used.

The Consumer Price Index of the United Kingdom was 136 in the first quarter of 2025, indicating that consumer prices have increased by 36 percent when compared with the first quarter of 2015. As of March 2025, the inflation rate for the CPI was 2.6 percent, a slight fall from the previous month. A long period of elevated inflation between 2021 and 2023 peaked in October 2022, and saw prices increase by over 20 percent in just three years. Uptick in inflation expected in 2025 In late 2024, the UK's main economic forecaster; the Office for Budget Responsibility, predicted that the annual inflation rate for 2025 would average out at around 2.6 percent. In March 2025, however, the OBR revised this figure upward, with annual inflation now expected to be 3.2 percent. This uptick in inflation is predicted to peak in the third quarter of the year at 3.7 percent, before falling to two percent by the second quarter of 2026. Although this period of higher inflation is predicted to be far less severe than in 2022, it will no doubt put further pressure on households already struggling with their cost of living. Cost of living woes continue The share of UK households reporting that their cost of living was increasing has been steadily rising since Summer 2024. At that time, less than half of UK households reported rising costs, down from 91 percent two years earlier. As of March 2025, however, 59 percent of households said their costs were rising, the highest figure since 2023. Of these households, 93 percent reported that their food shop was increasing, with three quarters of them reporting higher energy costs. With higher inflation predicted in 2025, the pressure on UK households will likely continue, although a crisis on the scale of 2021-2023 will hopefully be avoided.

UAE inflation rate for 2023 was 1.63%, a 3.66% decline from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>UAE inflation rate for 2022 was <strong>5.29%</strong>, a <strong>5.11% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>UAE inflation rate for 2021 was <strong>0.18%</strong>, a <strong>2.26% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>UAE inflation rate for 2020 was <strong>-2.08%</strong>, a <strong>0.15% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Inflation as measured by the consumer price index reflects the annual percentage change in the cost to the average consumer of acquiring a basket of goods and services that may be fixed or changed at specified intervals, such as yearly. The Laspeyres formula is generally used.

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Abstract

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS) is of great importance among other household surveys conducted by statistical agencies in various countries around the world. This survey provides a large amount of data to rely on in measuring the living standards of households and individuals, as well as establishing databases that serve in measuring poverty, designing social assistance programs, and providing necessary weights to compile consumer price indices, considered to be an important indicator to assess inflation.

The First Survey that covered all the country governorates was carried out in 1958/1959 followed by a long series of similar surveys . The current survey, HIECS 2012/2013, is the eleventh in this long series.

Starting 2008/2009, Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Surveys were conducted each two years instead of five years. this would enable better tracking of the rapid changes in the level of the living standards of the Egyptian households.

CAPMAS started in 2010/2011 to follow a panel sample of around 40% of the total household sample size. The current survey is the second one to follow a panel sample. This procedure will provide the necessary data to extract accurate indicators on the status of the society. The CAPMAS also is pleased to disseminate the results of this survey to policy makers, researchers and scholarly to help in policy making and conducting development related researches and studies

The survey main objectives are:

• To identify expenditure levels and patterns of population as well as socio- economic and demographic differentials.

• To measure average household and per-capita expenditure for various expenditure items along with socio-economic correlates.

• To Measure the change in living standards and expenditure patterns and behavior for the individuals and households in the panel sample, previously surveyed in 2008/2009, for the first time during 12 months representing the survey period.

• To define percentage distribution of expenditure for various items used in compiling consumer price indices which is considered important indicator for measuring inflation.

• To estimate the quantities, values of commodities and services consumed by households during the survey period to determine the levels of consumption and estimate the current demand which is important to predict future demands.

• To define average household and per-capita income from different sources.

• To provide data necessary to measure standard of living for households and individuals. Poverty analysis and setting up a basis for social welfare assistance are highly dependent on the results of this survey.

• To provide essential data to measure elasticity which reflects the percentage change in expenditure for various commodity and service groups against the percentage change in total expenditure for the purpose of predicting the levels of expenditure and consumption for different commodity and service items in urban and rural areas.

• To provide data essential for comparing change in expenditure against change in income to measure income elasticity of expenditure.

• To study the relationships between demographic, geographical, housing characteristics of households and their income.

• To provide data necessary for national accounts especially in compiling inputs and outputs tables.

• To identify consumers behavior changes among socio-economic groups in urban and rural areas.

• To identify per capita food consumption and its main components of calories, proteins and fats according to its nutrition components and the levels of expenditure in both urban and rural areas.

• To identify the value of expenditure for food according to its sources, either from household production or not, in addition to household expenditure for non-food commodities and services.

• To identify distribution of households according to the possession of some appliances and equipments such as (cars, satellites, mobiles ,…etc) in urban and rural areas that enables measuring household wealth index.

• To identify the percentage distribution of income earners according to some background variables such as housing conditions, size of household and characteristics of head of household.

• To provide a time series of the most important data related to dominant standard of living from economic and social perspective. This will enable conducting comparisons based on the results of these time series. In addition to, the possibility of performing geographical comparisons.

Compared to previous surveys, the current survey experienced certain peculiarities, among which :

1- The total sample of the current survey (24.9 thousand households) is divided into two sections:

a- A new sample of 16.1 thousand households. This sample was used to study the geographic differences between urban governorates, urban and rural areas, and frontier governorates as well as other discrepancies related to households characteristics and household size, head of the household's education status, ....... etc.

b- A panel sample of 2008/2009 survey data of around 8.8 thousand households was selected to accurately study the changes that may have occurred in the households' living standards over the period between the two surveys and over time in the future since CAPMAS will continue to collect panel data for HIECS in the coming years.

2- Some additional questions that showed to be important based on previous surveys results, were added to the survey questionnaire, such as:

a- The extent of health services provided to monitor the level of services available in the Egyptian society. By collecting information on the in-kind transfers, the household received during the year; in order to monitor the assistance the household received from different sources government, association,..etc.

b- Identifying the main outlet of fabrics, clothes and footwear to determine the level of living standards of the household.

3- Quality control procedures especially for fieldwork are increased, to ensure data accuracy and avoid any errors in suitable time, as well as taking all the necessary measures to guarantee that mistakes are not repeated, with the application of the principle of reward and punishment.

The raw survey data provided by the Statistical Agency were cleaned and harmonized by the Economic Research Forum, in the context of a major project that started in 2009. During which extensive efforts have been exerted to acquire, clean, harmonize, preserve and disseminate micro data of existing household surveys in several Arab countries.

Geographic coverage

Covering a sample of urban and rural areas in all the governorates.

Analysis unit

1- Household/family. 2- Individual/person.

Universe

The survey covered a national sample of households and all individuals permanently residing in surveyed households.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

THE CLEANED AND HARMONIZED VERSION OF THE SURVEY DATA PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH FORUM REPRESENTS 50% OF THE ORIGINAL SURVEY DATA COLLECTED BY THE CENTRAL AGENCY FOR PUBLIC MOBILIZATION AND STATISTICS (CAPMAS)

The sample of HIECS 2012/2013 is a self-weighted two-stage stratified cluster sample, of around 24.9 households. The main elements of the sampling design are described in the following.

1- Sample Size The sample has been proportionally distributed on the governorate level between urban and rural areas, in order to make the sample representative even for small governorates. Thus, a sample of about 24863 households has been considered, and was distributed between urban and rural with the percentages of 45.4 % and 54.6, respectively. This sample is divided into two parts: a- A new sample of 16094 households selected from main enumeration areas. b- A panel sample of 8769 households (selected from HIECS 2010/2011 and the preceding survey in 2008/2009).

2- Cluster size The cluster size in the previous survey has been decreased compared to older surveys since large cluster sizes previously used were found to be too large to yield accepted design effect estimates (DEFT). As a result, it has been decided to use a cluster size of only 8 households (In HIECS 2011/2012 a cluster size of 16 households was used). While the cluster size for the panel sample was 4 households.

3- Core Sample The core sample is the master sample of any household sample required to be pulled for the purpose of studying the properties of individuals and families. It is a large sample and distributed on urban and rural areas of all governorates. It is a representative sample for the individual characteristics of the Egyptian society. This sample was implemented in January 2012 and its size reached more than 1 million household (1004800 household) selected from 5024 enumeration areas distributed on all governorates (urban/rural) proportionally with the sample size (the enumeration area size is around 200 households). The core sample is the sampling frame from which the samples for the surveys conducted by CAPMAS are pulled, such as the Labor Force Surveys, Income, Expenditure And Consumption Survey, Household Urban Migration Survey, ...etc, in addition to other samples that may be required for outsources.

New Households Sample 1000 sample areas were selected across all governorates (urban/rural) using a proportional technique with the sample size. The number

As of April 2025, the inflation rate in the European Union was 2.4 percent, with prices rising fastest in Romania, which had an inflation rate of 4.9 percent. By contrast, both France and Cyprus saw low inflation rates during the same period, with France having the lowest inflation rate in the EU during this month. The rate of inflation in the EU in the October 2022 was higher than at any other time, with the peak prior to 2021 recorded in July 2008 when prices were growing by 4.4 percent year-on-year. Before the recent rises in inflation, price rises in the EU had been kept at relatively low levels, with the inflation rate remaining below three percent between January 2012 and August 2021. Rapid recovery and energy costs driving inflation The reopening of the European economy in 2021 following the sudden shock of COVID-19 in 2020 is behind many of the factors that have caused prices to rise so quickly in 2022. Global supply chains have not yet recovered from production issues, travel restrictions, and workforce problems brought about by the pandemic. Rising energy costs have only served to exacerbate supply problems, particularly with regard to the transport sector, which had the highest inflation rate of any sector in the EU in December 2021. High inflation rates mirrored in the U.S. The high inflation rates seen in Europe have been reflected in other parts of the world. In the United States, for example, the consumer price index reached a 40-year-high of seven percent in December 2021, influenced by many of the same factors driving European inflation. Nevertheless, it is hoped that once these supply chain issues ease, inflation levels will start to fall throughout the course of 2022.

Consumer Price Index (CPI): Karnataka: Food and Beverages data was reported at 203.600 2012=100 in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 205.600 2012=100 for Feb 2025. Consumer Price Index (CPI): Karnataka: Food and Beverages data is updated monthly, averaging 142.200 2012=100 from Jan 2011 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 166 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 210.700 2012=100 in Oct 2024 and a record low of 88.100 2012=100 in Mar 2011. Consumer Price Index (CPI): Karnataka: Food and Beverages data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The data is categorized under India Premium Database’s Inflation – Table IN.IB055: Consumer Price Index: 2012=100: by State: Karnataka.

Rents in Germany continued to increase in all seven major cities in 2024. The average rent per square meter in Munich was approximately **** euros — the highest in the country. Conversely, Düsseldorf had the most affordable rent, at approximately **** euros per square meter. But how does renting compare to buying? According to the house price to rent ratio, house prices in Germany have risen faster than rents, making renting more affordable than buying. Affordability of housing in Germany In 2023, Germany was among the European countries with a relatively high house price to income ratio in Europe. The indicator compares the affordability of housing across OECD countries and is calculated as the nominal house prices divided by nominal disposable income per head, with 2015 chosen as a base year. Between 2012 and 2022, property prices in the country rose much faster than income, with the house price to income index peaking at *** index points at the beginning of 2022. Slower house price growth in the following years has led to the index declining, as incomes catch up. Nevertheless, homebuyers in 2024 faced significantly higher mortgage interest rates, contributing to a higher final cost. How much does buying a property in Germany cost? Just as with renting, Munich was the most expensive city for newly built apartments. In 2024, the cost per square meter in Munich was almost ***** euros pricier than in the runner-up city, Frankfurt. Detached and semi-detached houses are usually more expensive. The price gap between Munich and the second most expensive city, Stuttgart, was nearly ***** euros per square meter.

In 2024, the average monthly income per capita in Vietnam reached approximately *** million Vietnamese dong, indicating a slight increase from the previous year. 2020 and 2021 were particularly difficult years for the country’s population when per capita income decreased due to the negative impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic. Income distribution in Vietnam As a rapidly developing country in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has made significant efforts to improve income distribution among its population. One of the key factors contributing to a more balanced income distribution is Vietnam’s robust economic growth. Although the COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to the country’s economy, Vietnam has been enjoying gradual GDP growth over the past few years, which explains the increase in job opportunities and higher wages for many Vietnamese citizens. Over the years, the Vietnamese government has implemented various policies and strategies to reduce the poverty rate and narrow the income gap in the country. However, the difference in income between urban and rural areas is inevitable. According to a governmental report in 2022, earnings per capita improved steadily across the whole country regardless of area; nonetheless, the monthly average income in urban areas was 1.5 times higher than that of their rural counterparts. Among the five major cities, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City recorded the highest income per capita due to their higher living expenses compared to other areas. Monthly household expenditures in Vietnam While Vietnam has made noticeable progress in reducing poverty and improving income distribution, challenges remain in shaping the overall living standard for the population. The cost of living varies across different regions, with urban areas generally having higher expenses compared to rural areas. The largest portions of household expenditures are mainly used for nutrition, followed by housing, transportation, and healthcare. Education and entertainment also contributed to the monthly expenses, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and many restrictions were lifted in the country.