Pensioners will see slightly higher net payments from this month after routine inflation adjustments and new IRS withholding tables were applied; simulations show, for example, a gross €1,000 pension could yield roughly €27 more net. The change reflects updated income‑tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares or IRS) withholding rates rather than a direct benefit increase. Pension recipients should check payslips to confirm new net amounts.

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.

The Canadian rating agency DBRS left Portugal's credit rating unchanged at its recent review and kept the outlook stable, citing continued fiscal progress and a path to a budget surplus in 2025. Outlets note this follows DBRS's upgrade to 'A (high)' last year and is consistent with other recent assessments of Portuguese public finances. Borrowers, investors and anyone monitoring mortgage or bond markets should see this as a sign of continued credit stability.

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.

Financial reporting shows the three‑month Euribor remained at 2.016%, while the six‑ and 12‑month rates rose to about 2.146% and 2.251% respectively, widening the curve between short and longer terms. The moves reflect daily money‑market shifts and will influence variable‑rate mortgage costs and short-term borrowing pricing. Mortgage holders should note modest upward pressure on medium/longer reset periods and check how their lender calculates variable payments.

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.

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.

Portugal’s Tax Authority has published its 2026 calendar and highlighted that one of the early steps for preparing the IRS income‑tax return is notifying the tax office about your household composition — a detail that affects tax filing and benefits. Tax‑paying residents should check the official deadlines and ensure household data are up to date before filing season begins.

Outlets report small day-to-day Euribor shifts: three- and six-month Euribor rates rose slightly while the 12-month rate fell or eased marginally, with published short-term averages around 2.02–2.05% (three-month), ~2.13% (six-month) and roughly 2.25% (12-month) depending on the source. The changes are modest but relevant for borrowers with products indexed to short-term Euribor: expats with variable-rate mortgages or loans should check how their lender updates payments and consider whether a switch to a fixed rate or lender review is advisable.

A Lisbon Administrative and Tax Court ruled in favour of Banco de Portugal in a test case brought by international funds (including names reported such as BlackRock and PIMCO) challenging the BES resolution, dismissing compensation claims that exceeded €2 billion. The ruling clears the central bank of the claims in this case and reduces a legal overhang for regulators and public finances, though other suits may persist. For expats in finance or holding Portuguese-linked securities, the decision matters for market confidence and signals lower immediate risk of a large central-bank payout related to BES.

Nuno Leal, co‑CEO of Doutor Finanças, says the tax measures in the government’s housing plan — due to be debated in Parliament on Friday — should help increase supply in the market. He concedes the package tends to favour property owners and landlords but considers it “relatively balanced”, noting the measures are centred on those who hold property while aiming to ease supply constraints. The assessment focuses on likely effects on rental supply and owner incentives rather than specific legislative detail.

Economist Vera Gouveia Barros argues that the most effective element of the Construir Portugal programme is tax relief on rentals, citing an ‘almost mechanical effect’ from a proposed 10% autonomous IRS rate for rents up to €2,300. She suggests this tax cut will directly influence rent levels and landlord behaviour, with likely quick transmission into the market. However, the package omits a dedicated room‑rental option — a gap that could limit lower‑cost housing supply and options for students, workers and expats. Barros’ analysis implies policymakers should pair fiscal incentives with targeted measures for small‑unit and shared accommodation and monitor market adjustments to avoid unintended rent inflation or supply imbalances.

The latest episode of the weekly podcast 'Ao trabalho!' examines lingering uncertainty over tuition fee refunds and the implications for pay awards that recognise qualifications. Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento’s response on the pay-award question is discussed alongside fast-moving items on labour policy, employment law and the state budget, with analysis of what these developments mean for workers and expats. The short, under-five-minute episode aims to distil key takeaways and policy consequences for those following workplace rights and public spending.

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.

The State’s €1,550 million fund to guarantee up to 100% housing finance for young people is almost fully committed: €1,460 million (94%) has already been allocated to banks, leaving under €90 million available for future distributions. The near-exhaustion of the guarantee reduces headroom for new beneficiaries and shifts pressure onto banks and policy makers to consider whether to broaden, renew or restrict the scheme, with implications for the housing market and public finances.

Data from the Ministry of Labour, provided to ECO, shows companies have withdrawn more than €120 million from the Labour Compensation Fund (FCT), with the bulk of disbursements used to finance worker training. Employers can still claim roughly €517 million from the fund before the deadline at the end of the year, signalling significant ongoing demand and potential pressure on FCT resources. The pattern of withdrawals highlights how firms are reallocating statutory employer liabilities towards upskilling and may have implications for labour policy and fund sustainability.

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.

EContas outlines the key tax and reporting obligations due in January so businesses and households stay compliant with the Tax and Customs Authority (AT) and Social Security (SS). Important January items include the Day 9 electronic communications for IRS (personal income tax), IRC (corporation tax) and VAT, SAF‑T invoicing requirements, VAT returns and payments, and related Social Security filings — all with strict deadlines and penalties for late or incorrect submissions. Use the EContas checklist to prioritise filings, confirm filing channels (electronic transmission), and avoid sanctions.

A wave of policy and market changes due to take effect in 2026 will raise the cost of housing for Portuguese households and alter incentives across the sector. Measures affecting rents, mortgage lending rules and tax treatment of construction and property are set to impact owners, tenants and prospective buyers, with knock-on effects for affordability, market dynamics and the state budget. The package will reframe public incentives and regulatory risk for investors and households alike, requiring households and professionals to reassess financing, renting and development decisions.

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.

Portugal’s stock market posted its strongest annual performance since 2009, driving an aggregate increase of more than €2.5 billion in the value of the country’s largest stock-market fortunes. Broad gains across most listed shares lifted prominent families — notably the Azevedo family — and highlighted the market’s role as an economic indicator for investors and expats. The move suggests improved investor confidence and greater wealth concentration among major shareholders, with implications for portfolio strategies and domestic capital flows in 2025.

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.