Report: the impact of COVID-19 on Maltese household expenditure

The economic implications and repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic are deep and far-reaching, affecting the economy of virtually every nation on earth. The virus has had a significant impact on the demand and supply sides of numerous sectors; not only by reducing disposable income and breaking supply chains, but also by changing the channels through which products and services are bought and sold.

Malta is no exception. We have seen a significant shift to online purchases, home deliveries and the remote offering of services, among others. This requires Maltese businesses, Government and other stakeholders to adjust. Through the findings reported in this publication, we hope to enable all players to make informed decisions by providing timely information that presents a true picture of the impact that COVID-19 has had on the consumption expenditure of persons residing in Malta.

This survey was thus launched with one goal in mind – to measure changes in the pattern of spending of Maltese citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to three main economic areas:

• general consumption
• travel
• real estate

The analysis presented in this report is the result of a survey that was conducted between Monday 13^th April and Friday 24^th April, during which 517 valid responses were collected.