BRUSSELS, March 14 (Xinhua) --Nearly half of Belgian households (48 percent) remain under financial stress, with 8 percent struggling to cover expenses, according to Belgian non-profit consumer organization Testachats' annual consumer barometer released Friday, ahead of World Consumer Rights Day.

In 2024, 44 percent of households reported no financial difficulties, an increase of 3.8 percentage points from 2023.

The survey shows a mixed trend in costs. The prices of home maintenance (+5.8 percent), mortgage payments (+5.1 percent), and extracurricular activities (+4.4 percent) have risen, while the cost of meat, fish, and plant-based alternatives has dropped (-5 percent).

Consumer sentiment varies across regions, with the perceived cost-of-living index at 57.1 in Flanders, 54.6 in Brussels, and 51.6 in Wallonia. Flemish consumers are also more optimistic about the future (55.9) than Walloons (49.9).

Looking ahead to 2025, 37.7 percent of respondents expect their financial situation to worsen, while 17 percent foresee an improvement. Enditem

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