Prices remain a concern for the Germans
In a recent survey commissioned by the R+V insurance company, titled 'The Fears of the Germans', it was revealed that the fear of rising living costs has topped the list of concerns for Germans this year. Around half of the respondents (52 percent) expressed worry about costs such as food and rent increasing.
The price level in Germany remains high despite a significant fall in inflation rate. Political scientist Isabelle Borucki stated that the burden of high prices does not seem to have disappeared for people. Everyday fears about rising prices are particularly stubborn because they affect people's daily lives deeply.
The fear of a war involving Germany has remained at the same level as in the previous year. This fear ranks second among Germans' concerns, with 48 percent of respondents expressing worry. The fear that housing in Germany will become unaffordable ranks fourth among Germans' concerns this year, with 48 percent of respondents expressing worry.
Interestingly, women are more worried about rising living costs than men, with 57 percent of women compared to 47 percent of men. Women may be more likely to admit to being afraid due to higher awareness of unequal pay, often earning less than men.
Concerns related to migration have notably decreased, with only 49 percent of respondents expressing fear of the state being overwhelmed by refugees (ranking second), down from 56 percent in 2024. Both fears related to migration are at their lowest levels since 2015, excluding pandemic years, according to study lead Grischa Brower-Rabinowitsch.
The fear of tax increases or benefit cuts ranks third among Germans' concerns this year, with 49 percent of respondents expressing worry. The level of concern has decreased slightly for all fears compared to the previous year, except for the fear that authoritarian rulers worldwide are becoming more powerful and the fear of a war involving Germany, which have remained the same.
The fear that authoritarian rulers worldwide are becoming more powerful has increased slightly compared to 2024. In East Germany, 56 percent of people fear that the state is overwhelmed by refugees, compared to 47 percent in West Germany; 51 percent in the East fear conflicts due to further immigration, versus 43 percent in the West.
The ranking of fears is based on those topics that have most frequently received values of 5 to 7 on a scale of one (no fear at all) to seven (very great fear). The survey involved around 2,400 people aged 14 and over.
In 2021, there was one lower fear index in the entire history of the long-term study. However, the fear of rising living costs has been a persistent concern, reflecting the deep impact it has on people's daily lives.
It's important to note that the survey findings provide a snapshot of the concerns of the German population at a specific point in time. As economic and political circumstances change, so too may the ranking of fears.
This article is not an advertisement and is based on the findings of the 'The Fears of the Germans' survey.
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