A key indicator of household material welfare, Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) per capita, reveals significant variations across Europe. Expressed in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS), AIC measures all goods and services used by households, whether purchased directly or provided by the government or nonprofit organizations. As a result, it offers valuable insight into living standards across the continent.

In 2023, Luxembourg ranked at the top of the list, with AIC per capita 36% above the EU average, at 136% of the EU’s benchmark. In contrast, Bulgaria and Hungary recorded some of the lowest material welfare levels in the European Union, with AIC per capita at just 70% of the EU average. The overall EU average, which encompasses 27 member states, is set at 100.

Nine EU countries recorded AIC levels above the EU average. In addition to Luxembourg, these countries include Germany (119%), the Netherlands (119%), Austria (114%), Belgium (113%), Denmark (108%), France (106%), Sweden (106%), and Finland (105%). Among the EU’s largest economies, Germany and the Netherlands performed the best, followed by France, where welfare was 6% above the EU average. Meanwhile, Italy’s material welfare matched the EU average, and Spain, at 91%, ranked the lowest among the “Big Four.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Central and Eastern European countries, along with several EU candidate nations, generally reported lower AIC per capita. Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, and Slovakia follow Hungary and Bulgaria in showing more than 20% lower material welfare than the EU average.

Outside the EU, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries reported higher material welfare levels than the EU. Norway and Switzerland exceeded the EU average, with Norway at 24% above and Switzerland 16% higher. In contrast, all six EU candidate countries fell below the EU average, with Turkey, at 84%, performing better than nine EU countries, including Poland (83%) and Greece (80%).

While Nordic and Western European nations consistently show higher AIC per capita, reflecting better material welfare, Central and Eastern Europe, along with EU candidate countries, exhibit lower AIC figures. This disparity highlights notable regional differences in living standards across Europe.

Over the past three years, several countries experienced shifts in material welfare. Denmark saw the most significant decline, dropping from 120% of the EU average in 2020 to 108% in 2023. Meanwhile, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Spain reported significant increases in AIC per capita, with Turkey recording the most substantial rise among EU candidates, moving from 64% to 84%.

Eurostat explains that AIC is a comprehensive measure of household material well-being, accounting for all household expenditures, including those for food, clothing, housing, and healthcare. This indicator offers a more equitable way to compare living standards across different regions and countries, adjusting for variations in price levels.

Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the tech giant of secretly listening to users through its virtual assistant, Siri. The settlement, which was reached in a preliminary agreement, comes after claims that Apple eavesdropped on users’ conversations and shared voice recordings with advertisers.

The lawsuit alleges that Siri was activated without users’ consent, even when the wake phrase “Hey, Siri” was not used. The claimants also argue that Apple’s failure to delete these recordings led to them being shared with advertisers, who used the data to target users with personalized ads.

Although Apple has not admitted to any wrongdoing, the company has stated in court filings that it denies the allegations that it recorded or disclosed conversations without consent. Additionally, Apple claims it permanently deleted individual Siri audio recordings collected prior to October 2019.

The lead plaintiff in the case, Fumiko Lopez, alleges that both she and her daughter were recorded without their permission. They claim that after discussing products like Air Jordans, they began seeing targeted ads for those products.

The lawsuit is classified as a class action, meaning it is brought forward by a small group of individuals on behalf of a larger group of affected users. In this case, eligible US-based claimants could receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device they owned between 2014 and 2019. Lawyers representing the claimants are expected to receive 30% of the settlement fee, amounting to nearly $30 million.

Apple’s decision to settle, despite denying any liability, allows the company to avoid the risks of a lengthy trial that could result in a higher payout. The settlement amount, while substantial, is less than the potential cost of a trial verdict, especially as Apple has continued to see strong financial performance. The company reported $94.9 billion in revenue for the three months ending September 2024.

This settlement adds to a growing list of class action lawsuits Apple has faced in recent years. In January 2024, Apple began paying out in a $500 million lawsuit over allegations of deliberately slowing down older iPhones. Earlier in March, it agreed to pay $490 million in a class action over its App Store practices in the UK. The company is also facing a class action from the consumer group Which?, accusing Apple of overcharging customers for its iCloud service.

The same law firm representing the claimants in the Siri case is also suing Google for similar allegations of eavesdropping through Google devices, with that case ongoing in the same California court.