EQUALITY FROM THE HEART WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT
SUNDAY • 17 DECEMBER 2023 • ISSUE 1259 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY
Be sure to
get your copy
of Gourmet
magazine
Out with
MaltaToday
Weird, funny,
best and worst:
What teachers
get for Christmas
PAGES 14 - 15
A look at the
best-selling
toys this
Christmas
PAGE 10
Dear teacher
Besties
'More than roads'
maltatoday
PAGE 2
PAGES 6 - 7
Transport Minister
Aaron Farrugia
on efforts for
alternative
mobility
INTERVIEW MT2
KURT
SANSONE
ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt
Inflation Grinch erodes traditional
spending on Christmas presents
INFLATION is proving to be the Grinch
of Christmas 2023 as families whose
pockets have been hit hard are spending
less on gifts this year.
A MaltaToday survey being published
today found that 41% of respondents will
be spending less on presents this year.
The hardest hit is felt by those who
declare a monthly income of less than
€2,000.
The survey also found that while only
9% plan to spend less on the tradition-
al Christmas lunch, 36% plan to spend
the same amount as last year despite the
hike in food prices.
This means Christmas lunch may be
less abundant this year.
Inflation has remained very high de-
spite stable energy and fuel prices
brought about by hefty government
subsidies. As a result of high inflation,
the upward cost of living adjustment to
wages in January will be a record €12.81
per week.
SEE THE FULL SURVEY RESULTS
ON PAGES 12 AND 13
FREE public transport will be
extended to the ferry service be-
tween Valletta, Sliema and Borm-
la next year, Transport Minister
Aaron Farrugia has told Malta-
Today.
The decision forms part of gov-
ernment's efforts to reduce road
congestion by encouraging peo-
ple to leave their car at home and
use public transport instead.
In an interview appearing today,
Farrugia says the ferry service will
be free for Tal-Linja Card users in
2024.
Free ferries for
Tal-Linja card
users next year
Government
disagrees with fresh
milk price hikes, at
loggerheads with
producers
JAMES
DEBONO
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
€1.95
