Portugal

More than half of the Portuguese resorted to credit to pay invoices, points out study

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 20/10/2026, 16:41:24 UTC.

Briefings

A study by Intrum found that over half (53%) of Portuguese consumers used credit or borrowed money to pay bills in the last six months, rising to 79% among low-income households. The survey, conducted between July and August 2025 across 20 European countries, revealed that 79% of respondents trust their ability to pay monthly bills, though 75% pay on time. Key findings include a 24% increase in late bill payments and a rise in BNPL usage from 8% to 33%, with 17% of consumers classified as financially fragile. The study attributes financial stress to rising living costs, unexpected expenses, and stagnant wages, while noting that 72% save monthly for emergencies.

Key points

• Over half (53%) of Portuguese consumers used credit or borrowed money to pay bills in the last six months, rising to 79% among low-income households.
• 75% of consumers pay bills on time, though 79% trust their ability to pay monthly bills despite financial stressors.

Context

The Intrum European Consumer Payment Report 2025 surveyed 20,000 consumers across 20 European countries between July and August 2025. The study tracks changes in payment behaviors and financial confidence compared to 2025 and 2024 data.

Limitations

The study covers only six months of data and relies on self-reported financial behaviors from 20,000 consumers across 20 countries, limiting generalizability and potential bias.

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