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MONEY

Energy crisis: Which everyday German products are increasing the most in price?

Inflation in Germany reached 10.4 percent in October – the highest level in 70 years. The Federal Statistical Office has now announced which prices have risen particularly sharply.

A woman takes a €5 banknote out of her purse.
A woman takes a €5 banknote out of her purse. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez

Energy prices

Energy prices in Germany have risen significantly as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the squeeze on cheap energy supplies and high energy prices are the biggest driver of inflation.

Despite the relief measures taken by the federal government over the past year, energy prices in October were 43 percent higher than in the same month last year.

READ ALSO: KEY POINTS: Germany’s inflation relief measures to support people in cost of living crisis

According to the German Federal Statistical Office, household energy in particular has become significantly more expensive.

Prices for natural gas, for example, have more than doubled since last October – increasing by 109.8 percent.

The cost of heating with other energy sources has also risen sharply – the price of firewood, wood pellets or other solid fuels has increased by 108.1 percent since October 2021, while the price of heating oil has increased by 83 percent. Electricity prices have also increased by 26 percent.

A man fills up his car at a gas station in Duisburg. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein

Prices for gasoline and diesel have also risen by more than 22 percent since last year. In October, an average 40-litre tank of Super E10 cost €76 – €10 more than a year ago and €26 more than in 2020. 

Groceries

According to the Federal Statistical Office’s report, private households are now paying on average 20.3 percent more for groceries than in October 2021.

The biggest price hike has been for edible fats and oils – such as butter and cooking oil – which have increased by 49.7 percent since last October.

A girl spreads butter on a slice of bread. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Patrick Pleul

Dairy products and eggs are 28.9 percent more expensive than a year ago, while vegetables and cereal products are 23.1 and 19.8 percent more expensive respectively.

The statisticians attribute the price increases to supply bottlenecks and problems in the upstream stages of the production chain as the main reasons for these cost hikes. 

READ ALSO: Fact check: Is Germany heading into a recession next year?

Prices for meat have also risen by 19.3 percent within the last year, as the cost of energy, fertilizer and feed has risen sharply, while labour shortages and minimum wage increases have made personnel costs more expensive.

Vocabulary 

Price increases – (die) Preiserhöhungen

Wood pellets – (die) Holzpellets

Heating oil – (das) Heizöl

Dairy products – (die) Molkereiprodukte

Cereal products – (die) Getreideprodukte

We’re aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Let us know.

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MONEY

DAX hits record high: What you need to know about investing in German index funds

Germany’s leading index of blue-chip stocks - or the country’s 40 largest companies - hit record heights early on Wednesday. Here's what you need to know if you're interested in (ideally) getting a piece of the pie.

DAX hits record high: What you need to know about investing in German index funds

The DAX rose 0.2 percent and surpassed the 18,000 point mark for the first time. The index climbed to 18,001.42 points minutes after the Frankfurt Stock Exchange opened. 

The DAX, which is made up of the top 40 large German corporations including Daimler and BMW, continues to build despite a wavering German economy. Some analysts say positive inflation indicators in the US and the eurozone contributed to the rally.  

But how can you get a piece of the pie? Here’s what to know about investing in Germany before you shell out your hard earned cash. 

Can foreigners invest in Germany?

Yes, but US citizens may face some limitations. International banks must report to the IRS when serving Americans, so several German banks do not offer investment services to this population. If you are a US citizen interested in investing in Germany, you should speak with an expert or financial advisor about your options. 

In Germany, the main fund managers that offer index funds include the Allianz Global Investors, Deutsche Bank, iShares, and Vanguard. 

How can I invest in Germany?

Germany offers residents several different investment options including:

  • Securities (e.g., Stocks, ETFs, Bonds)
  • Real estate
  • Gold
  • Crypto

Each of these options carry different levels of risk. Interactive Brokers, Trade Republic, Saxo Bank, eToro, and Lightyear are some of the popular online brokerage account providers operating in Germany. These accounts allow you to invest in index funds. Traditional banks like ING and Commerzbank also offer some expats securities accounts where stocks and other investments can be purchased. 

READ ALSO: What to know about cryptocurrency in Germany

What is an index fund?

An index fund is either a mutual fund or an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in a mix of stocks, bonds and other securities. Index funds are grouped to mirror regional markets or capture the growth of an industry like tech or oil. 

Index funds are considered a safer and more passive way of investing because they are intended to mimic the performance of a financial market index. 

What are some of the biggest index funds in Germany?

There are four indices available to invest in the German stock market. The DAX tracks the 40 largest German blue chip companies including Adidas, Deutsche Bank, and Zalando. This index grew more than 26 percent over the last three years.  

Deutsche Bank

A photo taken on August 13, 2021 shows the Deutsche Bank headquarters in Frankfurt am Main. (Photo by ARMANDO BABANI / AFP)

The FTSE Germany All Cap follows a mix of large, medium and small sized companies based in Germany. The performance of companies like Siemens, Deutsche Telekom, and Mercedes play a role in this fund’s performance. This index fund grew 15.04 percent in the same period. 

The F.A.Z. tracks the 100 largest German stock corporations across 12 industries. Companies like Hugo Boss, Bayer, and Lufthansa are included in this index fund which rose 13.25 percent over the last three years

The Solactive Germany 30 follows the performance of the country’s largest 30 companies including Porsche, BioNTech, and DHL. The index rose nearly 22 percent in a three year period

How are index funds taxed in Germany?

All investment income (capital gains and dividends) is subject to a flat tax in Germany. The tax rate is 25 percent plus the church tax and solidarity surcharge (5.5 percent). Without the church tax the effective tax rate on gains is 26.375 percent. When the church tax is included, the effective tax rate rises to 27.82 percent for Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg and 27.99 percent everywhere else. 

While the Solidarity Tax no longer applies to the majority of German taxpayers who make below  €73,000 as singles or €151,000 for married couples, it still applies to all capital gains, regardless of the amount.

The German government also offers a tax-free allowance for investment gains. Up to €801 when single or €1,602 when married is tax free. 

READ ALSO: What you should know about investing in Germany

Can you invest in foreign index funds in Germany?

Yes, but don’t forget to keep track of how much taxes you may owe if you invest abroad. When investing in Germany, banks automatically deduct the tax to pay to the authorities. 

But expat investors must keep track of profit gained from foreign banks and exchanges because the tax is not automatically deducted by banks not affiliated with the German tax authorities. The taxation rate remains the same for capital gains from foreign index funds.

As with all of our financial and tax summaries, this is a guide only. For financial advice which is personalised to your situation, please contact an accountant or other specialist.

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