Estonian Households Have Baltics' Highest Debts, Savings
The level of loan burden, as well as savings, carried by the average household is higher in Estonia than it is in Latvia and Lithuania, according to SEB.
Data published in the bank's semi-annual Baltic Households Outlook report, due to be presented in Riga tomorrow, show that per capita personal savings in Estonia at the end of last year were 3,549 euros while per capita debts were 5,359 euros, leaving the average person 1,810 euros in the red.
The Estonian loan debt situation is improving, however. SEB noted that the figure had dropped by nearly 10 percent compared to the year prior.
In Latvia, savings averaged 1,853 euros per person and loan debts 3,410 euros, a difference of 1,557 euros.
Lithuanians had more savings on average than they did debts, 2,413 euros compared to 2,363 euros.
Triin Messimas, SEB's private loans development manager, noted however that the savings figures in all cases varied widely, and some households didn't have any savings at all to speak of.
For example, the portion of people who have less savings than what they would need to cover one month's expenses came in at 43 percent in Estonia, 78 percent in Latvia and 62 percent in Lithuania.
Steve Roman