opinion poll
Almost every second person lacks leeway with rising prices
It’s not just the cost of electricity: Rising inflation is causing growing concern for people in Germany. Photo: Demy Becker/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The increase in consumer prices restricts the financial flexibility of many people. Some worry that they will no longer be able to make a living.
Rising inflation is causing growing concern for people in Germany. In a survey, 44 percent of consumers stated that they did not have enough leeway to be able to continue to maintain their standard of living with rising prices.
More than a quarter of those surveyed (28 percent) even believe that they will find it increasingly difficult to make a living, according to the survey published on Wednesday by Nordlight Research on behalf of the credit agency Schufa.
Many people worry
According to the survey, 74 percent of consumers fear general price increases. When it comes to energy costs, for example for electricity and petrol, 81 percent of the approximately 1000 respondents suspect that the price spiral will continue to turn upwards. “People are worried about the price increases for electricity and petrol in particular,” explains Ole Schröder, a member of the Schufa Holding board. The “world” had previously reported.
At the same time, according to the survey, many people are still feeling the financial consequences of the Corona crisis. The proportion of consumers reporting a drop in household income due to the pandemic was 33 percent at the turn of the year. In November, however, it was still 39 percent.
“The corona pandemic will not remain without longer-term consequences,” said Schröder. “After two years, the financial situation has worsened for part of the population, financial reserves have been used up and price increases can no longer be offset.”
Fueled above all by significantly higher energy prices, inflation in Germany has risen in recent months and at times exceeded the 5 percent mark. According to provisional information from the Federal Statistical Office, inflation fell slightly in January to 4.9 percent. However, the hoped-for significant drop in inflation did not materialize.