Recent data has revealed the depth of the cost-of-living crisis facing families in Germany, with a new survey showing that the continued rise in food prices has become a major challenge for a wide segment of citizens this year, exceeding the rates recorded last year.
Declining purchasing power and changing consumer habits
According to a survey conducted by the Forsa Institute, which specializes in measuring opinion trends, on behalf of the German Federation of Consumer Organizations, 45% of respondents confirmed that they have been forced to reduce their food purchases and change their consumption patterns as a result of successive price increases. This figure is a worrying indicator compared to last year, when it stood at 39%, reflecting a rapid decline in the purchasing power of German citizens.
Commenting on these findings, Ramona Popp, president of the federation, warned of the dangers of this shift, saying: "Access to a healthy and balanced diet is increasingly linked to individuals' financial means, and this is unacceptable in a country like Germany." She emphasized that low-income groups are the most affected, as food costs consume a significant portion of their monthly budgets.
Economic context: Cumulative inflation since 2020
These figures cannot be separated from the broader economic context that Germany and Europe have experienced in recent years. The report highlighted the shocking fact that food prices have risen by more than 35% since 2020. Economists attribute this significant increase to several cumulative factors, beginning with supply chain disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic and exacerbated by the energy crisis that struck Europe, leading to increased costs for agricultural production, transportation, and storage.
Calls for the establishment of a cost monitoring body
Faced with this reality, the head of the union urged the German government not to stand idly by, calling for decisive structural measures. The main demand centered on the need to establish an independent body to monitor costs and prices throughout the production chain, from farms to supermarket shelves, to ensure transparency and prevent the unjustified exploitation of crises to raise prices.
Bob also criticized the government's plans to reduce the value-added tax on restaurant meals starting in early 2026, noting that this measure would not benefit ordinary citizens, but would primarily benefit large fast-food chains, thus failing to solve the problem of healthy food.
A pessimistic view of the future
The survey, which polled 1,002 people in mid-November, reflected a prevailing sense of pessimism in Germany, with 52% of consumers viewing their economic situation in the new year negatively, compared to only 47% who held a positive outlook. These figures underscore that restoring consumer confidence requires fundamental solutions that go beyond temporary measures to control prices in Europe's largest economy.
