Majority of Czechs experience decline in living standard

Seven out of ten Czechs say they have experienced a decline in their standard of living in the past year, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Ipsos agency. Half of them say that the decline is significant. A further 23 percent of respondents expect their living standard to drop with the steep rise in energy prices in the autumn. Every second Czech has started buying cheaper goods and are cutting back on expenditures.  Many people said they were economizing on entertainment, culture and clothes and spending more on food, energy and transport.