Nearly 80% of Greeks believe economy to deteriorate

Greece's ruling Socialists are still more popular than the conservative opposition despite tough austerity measures but the gap is narrowing, a poll showed on Wednesday.

The poll of voting intentions by MRB for Mega TV channel showed the Socialists leading with 26.7 percent if elections were held now, against 22.6 percent for the conservatives.

The government has agreed salary cuts and tax hikes in exchange for a 110-billion-euro bailout by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, aimed at pulling Greece out of a huge debt crisis that has shaken the euro zone.

The poll showed the Socialists' lead over the conservatives narrowing to 4.1 percentage points from 8.1 points in a previous poll by the same agency in June.

The poll also showed that 78 percent of respondents expected the economy to deteriorate.

The ruling PASOK party came to power in October last year and the government does not need to call elections before the second half of 2013.