Rising prices: Why fewer and fewer Germans are going to restaurants

Rising prices: Why fewer and fewer Germans are going to restaurants

Fewer and fewer Germans regularly visit restaurants. There are various reasons for this, which are significantly influenced by high inflation and the associated price increases. According to a report by chip 80 percent of those surveyed see rising prices in restaurants as the main reason why they eat out less often. A frightening picture that makes it clear how much the economic conditions influence people's leisure behavior.

In addition, 37 percent of those surveyed cited their personal financial situation. Many are being forced to rethink their spending due to ongoing inflation. This inflation has reached its highest level in 70 years, with an average price increase of 7.9 percent in 2022 and a peak of 8.8 percent in November 2022, as the Deutschlandfunk reported. Even until August 2023, the inflation rate was 6.1 percent.

dissatisfaction and comfort

In addition to the financial aspects, qualitative factors also play a role. 22 percent of survey participants are dissatisfied with the service and quality in restaurants. This dissatisfaction is compounded by the need for local owners to save on costs. The increases in the price of production goods and raw materials ultimately have to be passed on to consumers, which often leads to a decline in service quality.

Another reason for the decline in restaurant visits is the convenience of eating at home, cited by 14 percent of respondents. In times when cooking at home is seen as a cheaper alternative, catering often falls by the wayside. In addition, 15 percent of those surveyed stated that they avoid visiting restaurants for other, unspecified reasons.

The effects of inflation

High inflation not only leads to a decrease in restaurant visits, but also has serious economic consequences. The loss of purchasing power is particularly noticeable for people with low incomes. Standard salaries rose by only 2.7 percent in 2022, while consumer prices rose sharply, leading to a real wage loss of 4.7 percent. In this context, the federal government has already passed three relief packages to reduce the burden on citizens.

The tense economic situation has also led to a forecast for the German gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, which expects a decline of 0.5 percent. These economic challenges are putting people in a position to think carefully about where they spend their money - and often the choice is against local restaurants.