The recently completed GfK Purchasing Power Europe 2008/2009 study reveals the regional variations in purchasing power among the population of 41 European countries.
Particularly noteworthy is that despite considerable growth in several eastern European countries, a gap between East and West remains. However, there are also large contrasts between the 'wealthy' and 'poor' regions within individual countries.
GfK GeoMarketing's study shows that European consumers have approximately eight trillion euros of disposable income available for 2008. State subsidies such as unemployment benefit, child support and pension payouts are included in these calculations.
For the 41 European countries included in the study, this amounts to an average purchasing power of approximately
