Potato salad with sausages significantly more expensive than last year

According to a recent study, the rising prices for groceries at the supermarket checkout are also noticeable at Christmas time. For example, Germans have to spend significantly more money this year for the Christmas classic potato salad with sausages than last year. On average, the prices in Germany for the ingredients have risen by more than 23 percent, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) published in Cologne on Thursday.

In some regions, the surcharge was significantly higher. The prices have risen the most in Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, where 6.56 euros per portion have to be paid. That is around 30 percent more than in the previous year. The classic is the most expensive this year in the district of Schwäbisch Hall: There, a portion costs 7.04 euros, which corresponds to an increase of 27 percent. First, the "image" reported on the study.

The institute recommended a cheaper alternative with vinegar and oil. The so-called "southern German potato salad" can be had for an average of 1.03 euros or 15 percent less.

"Food in particular has become particularly expensive this year," said IW economist Christoph Schröder. “This is due to the high energy prices. It doesn't matter whether it's for production, transport or storage: Energy is consumed everywhere, which ultimately affects the price."

According to Schröder, the fact that prices are lower in the east of the country is because people in east Germany earn less than customers in the west. Shop rents in the new federal states were also lower.

According to the report, the IW scientists used a simple recipe consisting of potatoes, onions, mustard, mayonnaise, gherkins, yoghurt and bockwurst for four people as the basis for their calculations.