Purchasing power of the Maltese falls in 2012

Malta's purchasing power in 2012 fell by just one point, down to 86% of the EU's gross domestic product, from a year earlier.

In 2010 and 2011, the GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS) was 87% of the EU's.

The highest, Luxembourg's, was two and a half times the EU28 average.

Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Belgium were between 20% and 30% above the average, while Finland was 15% above average. France, the United Kingdom and Italy were between the average and 10% above.

Spain and Cyprus were between the EU28 average and 10% below, while Malta, Slovenia and the Czech Republic were between 10% and 20% below. Slovakia, Portugal, Greece, Lithuania and Estonia were between 20% and 30% below the average, while Poland, Hungary, Latvia and Croatia were between 30% and 40% below. Romania and Bulgaria were around 50% below the average.

These data for 2012, 2011 and 2010, published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, are based on revised purchasing power parities, and the latest GDP and population figures.

While GDP per capita is mainly an indicator reflecting the level of economic activity, Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) per capita is an alternative indicator better adapted to describe the material welfare situation of households. Generally, levels of AIC per capita are more homogeneous than those of GDP but still there are substantial differences across the Member States. In 2012, AIC per capita expressed in PPS ranged between nearly 40% above the EU28 average in Luxembourg and around 50% below in Bulgaria and Romania.