Brazil Survey Shows 69% of Workers Can Cover Essential Bills

A Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) survey for the June 2026 quarter found that 69.1% of Brazilian workers reported being able to pay essential household expenses with their income, a 2.6‑point increase from the same period a year earlier. The share of respondents unable to cover basic costs rose to 30.9%, marking the fourth consecutive decline in the indicator.

Food remained the top expense for 75% of households, followed by utilities (50.3%) and housing costs (45.6%). Notably, transport costs surged from 2% to 27.6% of the top three expense categories, reflecting higher fuel prices. Economist Rodolpho Tobler noted that while improved earnings support bill payment, a slowing labor market may hinder further gains.