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3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 10 DECEMBER 2025 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 It also suggests that despite the significant tax cut in last year's budget, nearly two thirds felt no meaningful change in their in- come. Any increases appear to have been offset by inflationary pressures, leaving many Maltese feeling they are in the same fi- nancial position. Cautious optimism for 2026 When asked about the year ahead, respondents offered a more mixed outlook. Three in ten Maltese (30%) expect their income to rise in 2026, a small decline from last year yet still one of the highest levels of op- timism in the euro area. On- ly Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia and Ireland registered higher levels of optimism. However, this optimism is tempered by a relatively elevated share of pes- simists. 18% of respondents an- ticipate a drop in income, two points higher than in the previ- ous survey and above the euro- zone average of 14%. This places Malta among the more cautious member states, matching Luxembourg and trailing only Greece and Italy, both at 23%. A narrow majority, 52%, ex- pect their income to stay the same over the coming year, unchanged from last year but slightly below the euro ar- ea norm of 58%. When asked about their expectations regard- ing the inflation rate this year, 43% of respondents in Malta anticipated that inflation would be higher than it was last year, indicating significant concern about rising prices. This figure remained unchanged compared to the previous survey period, suggesting a consistent per- ception of ongoing inflationary pressure. Meanwhile, 34% of Maltese re- spondents believed the inflation rate would remain the same as the previous year. Compared to the euro area average, where 50% expected higher inflation, Malta's expectation of higher inflation (43%) was noticeably lower. This places Malta among the less pessimistic countries regarding inflation expecta- tions, contrasting sharply with Italy (84%) and the Netherlands (76%), which reported the high- est expectations for higher in- flation. Malta among euro area leaders in support for abolishing cent coins Support for removing the smallest euro coin denomina- tions, the 1 and 2 cent coins, is generally high across the euro area, but Malta stands out among the countries most strongly in favour of this poli- cy, which would involve round- ing final purchase prices to the nearest five cents. Across the euro area, 61% of respondents favour abolishing the 1 and 2 cent coins, while 35% are opposed. Malta shows above average enthusiasm for the change, with 63% of re- spondents indicating they are in favour of abolishing the cent coins. This places Malta among the group of countries with strong support, such as Ire- land (67%) and Portugal (62%). The proportion of Maltese re- spondents supporting abolition increased by three percentage points compared to the results from October 2024. Other countries, however, show even higher levels of sup- port. Italy records the highest approval at 85%, followed close- ly by Slovakia (84%), and both Estonia and Lithuania at 78%. The Netherlands also reports strong support for abolition at 78%, despite already encour- aging or enforcing rounding through national legislation, as is also the case in Belgium, Fin- land, Ireland and Slovakia. Conversely, Malta's opposi- tion rate of 32% is lower than the euro area average of 35%. Spain and Greece register the highest rates of opposition across the euro area, with only 43% and 47%, respectively, in favour of getting rid of the low value coins. Despite tax cuts, most Maltese see little change in income but hope for 2026 Over 73,000 people own more than one vehicle THE number of people in Malta who own more than one vehicle has jumped by 18,000 in just one year. According to replies to a parlia- mentary question by PN MP Gra- ziella Attard Previ, there are now 73,330 people who own more than one vehicle. Last year, this number stood at 55,163 vehicle owners. On the extreme end of the spec- trum, the figures tabled by Trans- port Minister Chris Bonett also show that there are 465 people who own more than 10 vehicles. The data, especially when com- pared to similar data tabled in par- liament last year, show that Mal- ta's love for private vehicles won't fade any time soon. More than 165,000 people own just one vehicle. This is the only category to see a decrease since last year, as this figure stood at 170,143 by 2024. By contrast, the number of peo- ple who own two vehicles jumped by 15% in one year, as this figure now stands at 45,476. Those who own three or four land vehicles now total 21,708, a staggering 62% increase from last year. Meanwhile, Malta has 4,731 in- dividuals who own five to seven vehicles. When compared to last year, one can note a 153% increase in this category. Another massive increase was noted in the number of people who own 8 to 10 vehicles, as a 271% increase brings the total fig- ure up to 950. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt The f igure stood at just over 55,000 in 2024 The number of people who own two vehicles jumped by 15% in one year, as this figure now stands at 45,476

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