Latest news and stories about expat finances in daily life in Portugal for expats and residents.
The external surplus of the Portuguese economy declined to slightly more than eight billion by November, indicating a reduction in the country's external balance compared with earlier months.

Eurostat, the EU statistical office, adjusted its estimate for annual inflation in the euro area down to 1.9% for December, indicating weaker price growth than previously reported.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Kristalina Georgieva, warns that risks to the global economy remain tilted to the downside despite having revised growth forecasts upwards, anticipating a 3.3% expansion in world GDP this year. The January World Economic Outlook (WEO), published this Monday, points ...

Live updates on market movements and economic developments for 19 January.

Before you start investing, or before you save more, there is an account you should open first — one that most people have never opened, according to Pedro Andersson.
Financial literacy is based on a very simple premise: the higher an individual's level of financial education, the more informed and effective their decisions tend to be throughout life. This relationship between knowledge and the quality of choices ceased long ago to be merely intuitive and is now widely recognised by organisations ...
Economist João Rodrigues de Santos warns that a public guarantee scheme is encouraging young people to take on mortgages with high repayments and minimal financial headroom, just as Portugal faces major international uncertainty. With wages among the third‑worst in the EU, the end of pandemic-era supports and the prospect of rising interest rates, many borrowers — including first-time buyers and expats — are exposed to rapid financial distress. The combination of weak income growth, a heated property market and policy incentives to lend underestimates downside risks; the commentator argues for tighter underwriting, better safety nets and targeted borrower support to reduce systemic vulnerability.
Update: The economist reiterated in a CNN Portugal piece that the public guarantee is actively pushing young buyers into mortgages with high repayments and little buffer amid heightened international uncertainty. He highlighted that the withdrawal of pandemic-era supports and the prospect of rising interest rates mean many borrowers — notably first-time buyers and expatriates — could rapidly fall into financial distress, strengthening his call for stricter underwriting standards and targeted safety nets to contain systemic risk.

In this episode we discuss the rise in fuel prices, the closure of hundreds of restaurants, the sale of a Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) bank in Cape Verde, and the tax authority's clarifications regarding income-tax‑exempt bonuses. Also featured are the increase in financial scams, the EU–Mercosur agreement and Portugal's presence at the Davos Forum.

Report on the measure of applying 0% VAT and its purported lack of effect on the State Budget (OE), and how food access and affordability differ across a country with growing economic divisions.

A comparison shows consumers paid €61 less for the same set of products four years ago.

DECO reports the largest increase in the cost of a typical food basket, indicating a significant rise in grocery prices.

A man filed a complaint with the Judicial Police in Lisbon, saying he lost €592.20.

In 2016 the woman and her son devised a plan for her to obtain powers of attorney from elderly people, which allowed them to manage the seniors' bank accounts and transfer the money into their personal accounts.

ECO reports the Euribor moved higher for the three‑ and six‑month tenors while the 12‑month rate fell; the three‑month rose to 2.033%, the six‑month to 2.143% and the 12‑month stood at 2.248%. These short‑term oscillations can influence variable‑rate mortgages and refinancing costs in the weeks ahead. Mortgage holders and prospective buyers should check loan indexation clauses and lender notices for immediate impacts.
Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) is the benchmark interest rate at which European banks lend to one another and is widely used as the reference for variable‑rate mortgages in Portugal. Changes affect monthly payments directly: the recent figures reported were 2.034% (3‑month), 2.104% (6‑month) and 2.255% (12‑month), so a rising Euribor typically increases costs for borrowers with tracker or variable loans.

Savings should be invested in the right place. Otherwise you'll only lose out.

The “Eurobarometer 2025: consumer trends in insurance and pension services”, by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), reveals that the majority of Portuguese are not financially prepared for retirement: low take-up of private pensions and low confidence in a comfortable life in retirement point to a worrying future. In the survey on trends ...

A market report highlights Lisbon — especially historic centre parishes such as Santa Maria Maior, Santo António and Misericórdia — consolidating as a European option for North American buyers, with foreign demand concentrated in central neighbourhoods. Consultants say the trend reflects both lifestyle demand and investor interest, which can push prices and reduce rental stock in prime areas. Those seeking housing in Lisbon should note increased competition in central districts and check neighbourhood supply if relocating or investing.

Keeping your emergency fund in a high-risk PPR is not a good option for some people, and Pedro Andersson explains why in this episode.
Live updates on market movements and economic news for 14 January.

Official reporting says average house rents rose 5.3% in 2025, with the largest regional increase in Madeira (6.9%). The rise will matter most to tenants and those searching for rentals — renters should expect continued pressure on budgets and factor increases into housing searches and lease negotiations.

JP Morgan analysts Aditya Chordia and Matteo Mamprin assign a roughly 50% probability that Moody’s will upgrade Portugal’s sovereign credit rating at its scheduled review in May, putting an upgrade within about four and a half months. The bank’s view reflects an assessment that Portugal’s improving economic fundamentals, fiscal position and lower borrowing costs have materially strengthened its credit profile, reducing downside risks. An upgrade as soon as May would tighten financing spreads, reinforce investor confidence and mark another step in Portugal’s long post‑crisis recovery; market participants should monitor sovereign metrics and rating signals in the run‑up to the review.

Real-time analytical coverage of financial markets and economic developments on 6 January, including market moves, key data releases and macro indicators. Commentary focuses on consumer confidence and cost pressures, investor sentiment and flows, implications for investors and expat households, and the significance of today’s indicators for policy and markets.

In 2024 remittances from Venezuela to Portugal amounted to €9.8 million, a 15% decline on the previous year. The fall signals shifts in diaspora financial flows and can serve as an economic indicator of changing expatriate activity and cross‑border ties between the two countries.

Time is the investor’s most powerful and underappreciated ally: by favouring patience and discipline it smooths short-term errors, magnifies successful decisions through compounding and reduces the need for frequent market timing. Adopting a long-term horizon, appropriate risk management and consistent investing habits lets individuals — including expats with cross-border financial challenges — harness tempo and time to improve outcomes. The article explains why time beats timing, how compounding and volatility smoothing work, and practical steps for long-term personal and expatriate investing strategies.
A family providing foster care for two children has been ordered by Social Security to repay more than €5,500 after losing their parental allowance. The parents call the demand an injustice and cite contradictory information and a lack of support from official services. The case highlights administrative confusion around parental-benefit eligibility, potential gaps in guidance for foster and expat families, and wider questions about transparency and appeals in welfare policy.
