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IW calculation: 9-euro ticket slowed down inflation

2022-08-03T11:30:02.274Z


Local transport at a bargain price has not only tempted some motorists to switch: According to a study, the price increase in Germany would have been higher without the campaign. But there is a catch.


Enlarge image

Full platform (in Speyer) on June 1st, the starting day of the 9-euro ticket

Photo: Ronald Wittek/EPA

According to a recent study, the introduction of the 9-euro ticket and state offers from waste disposal to hospital care, which have so far been quite stable in price, have significantly slowed down the price increase in Germany.

Without such state intervention, inflation would still be two percentage points higher, writes the German Economic Institute (IW) in a new study.

In their calculations, the scientists refer to the harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP), which is decisive for the monetary policy of the European Central Bank.

It was 8.2 percent in June and 8.5 percent in July.

Overall, according to the IW, the prices influenced by the state in areas such as culture, transport or public services account for around 12.5 percent of the basket used to determine inflation.

The state-influenced prices in Germany have risen significantly less than the other prices this year.

In June they even fell overall and thus slowed down the general price development noticeably.

"Above all, relief such as the 9-euro ticket should be decisive," emphasized the researchers.

Because passenger transport has a large share in the shopping basket, with which inflation is calculated.

Long-term relief prefers another way

However, the current relief would have its price, the IW experts warned.

The associated high administrative costs, financial gaps that may have arisen in the transport companies and rising energy prices could mean that when the 9-euro ticket expires in September, not only will ticket prices rise again, but also inflation.

"Of course, in the short term, it's gratifying that inflation isn't rising even more," said study author Melinda Fremerey.

However, such relief is not a long-term solution.

In order to dampen the effects of inflation, targeted relief and one-off payments such as the flat rate for heating costs are the right way.

mamk/dpa

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-08-03

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