European economic anxiety splits along national lines
A new survey shows Europeans are divided on their biggest challenges, with economic pessimism gripping France and Germany while Spain faces a housing crisis and Italy grapples with healthcare strains.
A YouGov survey across six European countries reveals that public anxiety is sharply divided along national borders, with no single issue dominating the continent. Instead, voters are focused on distinct local crises that threaten to suppress consumer spending and complicate economic policy across the bloc.
Economic malaise tops the agenda in the eurozone's two largest economies. In Germany, 44% of respondents named the economy as a primary concern, while in France that figure rose to 47%. Both populations are profoundly pessimistic, with 58% of Germans and 68% of French respondents expecting conditions to worsen over the next year.
This pessimism is grounded in harsh realities for investors and businesses. Germany's export-driven model remains under pressure from weak US and Chinese demand, particularly in the crucial automotive sector, leaving industrial output below pre-pandemic levels. In France, first-quarter growth stalled entirely as the Iran war drove up energy prices, and political deadlock continues to block reforms needed to stabilize public finances.
Housing and healthcare pressures
In Spain, the economic focus has shifted to a severe housing crisis. Nearly half of respondents ranked housing as the country's top issue, the highest rating for any category across the six countries surveyed. Prices surged almost 13% year-on-year at the end of 2025, meaning an average worker needs 8.4 years of salary to buy an 80-square-metre home.
The lack of affordable housing is particularly acute in the Balearic Islands and Madrid. Meanwhile, short-term lets in cities such as Barcelona continue to fuel local anger over the lack of accessible properties.
Italy stands out as the only country where healthcare overtakes economic worries, cited by 43% of respondents. An ageing population and severe staff shortages are straining the system. Italy lacks an estimated 175,000 nurses, and low pay is driving trained professionals to other European countries, threatening long-term workforce productivity.
Denmark provided a notable exception to the economic focus, with international terrorism or aggression and climate change tying as the top concerns at 27% each. For businesses operating across the continent, the survey underscores a fractured landscape where consumer sentiment requires highly localized strategies.
