ATHENS – Greece’s economy is bouncing back like a kangaroo but it isn’t helping many individuals and households with per capita real disposable income falling 1.9 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to 2023.

That was shown in data from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) among its 38 countries who are members, statistics showing an average increase of 0.9 percent among them.

The Hellenic Statistics Authority (ELSAT) said per capita nominal disposable increase rose 1.1 percent in the first quarter but that was more than offset by inflation of 3 percent cutting into people’s pockets and wallets.

Only five other OECD countries had real disposable incomes decline: Belgium (1.4%), the Czech Republic (1.4%), Australia (0.7%), Hungary (0.7%) and Denmark (0.2%) but Greeks were the worst off and among the highest taxed.

In 2024, the household disposable income in Greece is forecast to be 162.09 billion euros ($178.5 billion,) household disposable income per capita at 15,727 euros ($17,320) and total consumer spending at 155.18 billion euros ($170.9 billion.)