Europe's cost-of-living protests: Why rising prices are fueling unrest

Violent protests over rising living costs erupted across France, Italy, and Belgium over the weekend of October 17-18, with looting, fires, and clashes with police reported, while tens of thousands marched in Portugal against low wages and housing costs. In France, around 1,500 shops were damaged, a historic city hall in Limoges was set on fire, and over 1,000 officers were injured. Euro area inflation accelerated to 3.8 per cent in September 2026, with energy prices up 18.8 per cent year-on-year, and food prices have risen 34 per cent since August 2021. Real wages have fallen nearly 5 per cent in Italy since 2000, and housing costs consume 37 per cent of disposable income for Europeans at risk of poverty. Immediate triggers vary, including student protests in France and Belgium, while Portugal and Spain face severe housing affordability issues.