Thank God, temperatures are still mild for this time of the year, thank God many bought heating oil last spring before the price hikes. Then the raw between Finance Minister and representative of gas station owners threatens to force millions of households to spend a rel tough winter. Apart from the fact that many consumers do not have money to spend for heating oil at a cost of 1.40 euro per liter.
A meeting between Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and representatives of Greece’s gas station owners on Monday ended in a deadlock after the minister rejected a petition for the abolition of a hike on heating fuel that has raised the price per liter from around 1 euro to between 1.30-1.50 euros.
Gas station owners left the Finance Ministry demanding a meeting with the leaders of the three parties in the coalition government to discuss their claim, adding that they are prepared to halt delivery of heating fuel if their demands are not met.
The hike in the special consumption tax on heating fuel has brought it to 80 percent above that on diesel, making heating fuel around 40 percent more expensive this October compared to last.
Representatives for gas station owners say the hike «serves no other purpose than the degradation of the Greek people,» adding that unless the measure is retracted they «will persist with action.» (ekathimerini)
It should be noticed that quite a number of owners of flats in multi-storey buildings decided to refrain from supplying heating oil this winter. Stoves, fire-places and even heating via air/conditioning is the alternative to a heating oil price that hardly some can pay.
The tax increase could backfire and fail to heat the state pockets …
Some pets get even whispered by their owners friendly advices like growing more fur this winter…
PS here is the country where my income decreases by 40% but I am asked to contribute to state’s needs with a hike of 40%.
I remember when I came to Greece a long time ago (drachma was still in I believe), I was told by the tour guide and others that it would be very cheap to live in Greece and the biggest expense for people like me was airfare. Sure doesn’t seem cheap anymore. The coffees alone are way more than here it seems. I can grab a fairly good coffee for about a euro’s worth at Tim Hortons. I don’t go to rip off joints like Starbucks unless it is a real emergency.
since 6 months coffee prices have considerably dropped by 1-2 euro. In some chain coffee/snack shops you even get a capuccino 2,20 and a huge cheese pie for free. and most important: the coffee quality has not suffered. But of course, still you can pay 4.40 euro for a coffee at a cafe.
I like Starbucks because they serve the imperiastic American coffee with those painted on smiles that Starbucks employees have world wide…mmmmmwwwwahahahahahaha!!!