Survey: Record number of Estonians cutting spending this summer

A Norstat survey commissioned by LHV shows that 7% of Estonia's population will have to restrict their spending this summer. Compared with the same period last year, this figure has grown by one-fifth.

Estonians' summer in 2025 is shaping up to be more frugal than before – a Norstat survey commissioned by LHV reveals that as many as 7 percent of Estonia's population are forced to limit their spending this summer. This is a significant change compared with the summer survey conducted last year, when the corresponding figure was considerably lower.

Year-on-year, the need for economising has grown by one-fifth, which bears witness to the economic strain that many households continue to feel. Although inflation has cooled somewhat, it appears that real wage growth has not provided sufficient relief for all consumer segments.

Summer spending is typically curtailed in holidays, dining out and entertainment – areas where the impact of economising is most tangible. If a large share of households is cutting back precisely in these categories, it may have a negative effect on the service sector's turnover during the summer months.

The Norstat survey highlights a worrying trend: economic uncertainty has not disappeared from the daily lives of Estonians; rather, it seems to be deepening. According to experts, it is important to monitor whether this trend continues into autumn and to what extent it affects overall consumer activity in the country.