Poland food inflation forces consumers to adjust spending

Rising food prices driven by inflation are forcing many Poles to adjust their lifestyle and financial plans. According to a study conducted for Rankomat.pl, only 12% of respondents report that their earnings allow them to live comfortably and finance larger expenses without difficulty.

Approximately 25% of those surveyed stated that their income covers only basic needs, while another 6% struggle to meet current costs. This means 31% of respondents are functioning at or below the level of basic necessities. To manage budgets, many consumers are cutting back on non-essential spending, such as dining out and travel.

Financial expert Izabela Stachura-Adamczyk noted that larger expenditures are no longer spontaneous decisions but must be carefully planned within household budgets. This shift is reflected in rising trends for deferred payments; data from BIK shows that the number of installment loans granted in July was over 38% higher than the previous year, and the value of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' (BNPL) transactions rose by nearly 37% in the first half of the year.