Europe’s Autumn of Unrest: How 26 Years of Price Hikes Outpaced Wages
Protests across France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have escalated into a broader European crisis over the cost of living. While student demonstrations in France began in September over school conditions, anger has spread to other nations, driven by decades of rising prices that have outpaced wage growth. Data shows consumer prices have increased by 59% to 78% since 2000, with housing affordability deteriorating significantly in Spain and Portugal. Although real wages have risen in some countries, they have failed to keep pace with inflation, leaving many households feeling squeezed. Leaders across the political spectrum face mounting unrest as young people report no longer expecting to be better off than their parents.