Inequality gap widens as richest 10% spend 3.5 times more

TIRANA, Oct. 31 – Albania’s inequality gap widened in 2016 as the richest 10 percent of households spent 2.5 times more than the overwhelming 90 percent of Albanians, an annual survey conducted by state statistical institute, INSTAT, has found. A survey with some 9,000 households nationwide shows consumption levels for the overwhelming 90 percent of Albania’s households remained at a standstill after growing by a negligible 0.6 percent at a time when consumer prices grew by 1.3 in 2016, making real in consumption of goods and services at negative growth rates for the average Albanian. The data indicates the 3.4…