Lebensmittelpreise: Süddeutsche Haushalte geben am meisten aus

Higher Expenditures in Southern Germany

According to an analysis by the market research company YouGov, commissioned by the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, households in southern Germany spend significantly more money on food than in other parts of the country. In January 2023, the average expenditures per household in the south amounted to 402.22 euros, while the figures in the west were 398.11 euros, in the north 388.26 euros, and in the east only 376.62 euros.

Reasons for Regional Differences

Petra Süptitz, a market researcher at YouGov, cites several factors for this discrepancy. One major reason is the size of households, which tend to be smaller in eastern Germany, partly due to a higher number of seniors. Additionally, the eastern federal states show below-average purchasing power, especially in rural areas, while the south has a stronger economic base.

Rise in Food Prices

Food expenditures have risen sharply in recent years, primarily due to inflation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This inflation reached nearly nine percent, leading to a rapid increase in energy and food prices. In 2022, the average household expenditure on food was 381.14 euros, compared to 332.26 euros in 2021. Notably, expenditures in the south at that time were 352.30 euros, while in the east they were only 304.11 euros.

Scope of the Survey

The survey includes expenditures on food, which encompass beverages, fresh products such as fruits, vegetables, meat, as well as baked goods and sweets. Drugstore products like cosmetics or detergents were not considered in this analysis. The data comes from the YouGov Shopper Panel and is based on the expenditures of 30,000 households.

In light of these developments, the question arises as to how purchasing power and regional differences affect the competitiveness of companies. For investors, it is crucial to monitor these trends, as they can have direct impacts on shareholder value and company growth.