St Eustatius: improved purchasing power in 2015

On St Eustatius, purchasing power improvements weakened between 2012 (when it was measured for the first time) and 2014, but became stronger in 2015 with a 4.4 percent increase. Not everyone on St Eustatius benefited from this increase; in the same year, 38 percent of the population lost purchasing power.

More spending power for people in work

Purchasing power developments in households whose main income is from work or their own business in both years for which purchasing power is calculated, follow a pattern similar to that seen among the overall population. After years of levelling off, their spending power rose by 4.3 percent in 2015. Households depending mainly on social security in both these years saw a median increase of 4.5 percent, compensating for the decline in purchasing power one year previously.

Couples with children benefit the most

In 2015, people in single-person and multi-person households gained 4.5 and 4.2 percent in spending power respectively. Couples with children saw the most positive effects with spending power up 8.4 percent.

Marked rise in spending power younger age groups

In 2015, Statian households in all age categories saw their purchasing power improve. The sharpest rise was seen among people in the age category up to 40 years. These are the people who are still moving up the career ladder. As they gain more work experience and find better paid jobs, their wages increase. In 2015, their median spending power increase was 7.2 percent. Middle-aged households saw purchasing power increase less sharply, by 3 percent. For the older households whose primary source of income is AOV (local old age insurance benefit), the purchasing power improvement was equal to the income increase in real terms.

Highest incomes benefit most

In all income groups, purchasing power rose in 2015. The wealthiest households gained the most at 8.3 percent. Nevertheless, 30 percent of people in these households lost purchasing power.