This is currently cheap: where you can save despite the "expected 6 percent inflation" for 2022
Created: 2022-04-08Updated: 2022-04-08 2:44 PM
By: Magdalena von Zumbusch
In contrast to most groceries, the average price of vegetables is currently lower than in 2021. © Sven Hoppe/dpa
Everything is getting more expensive - that has been the feeling of most people since the start of the Ukraine war at the latest.
The inflation rate agrees with the feeling - but there are products with which you can currently save.
Wiesbaden – The inflation rate was 5.1 percent in February 2022, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel is now even anticipating an overall inflation rate of six percent for 2022.
But there are currently some products that are becoming cheaper.
Basis of the inflation rate: The consumer price index
Anyone who wants to understand current inflation needs to know the concept of the consumer price index.
The Federal Statistical Office of Germany explains the consumer price index on its website: The consumer price index measures how the prices of all goods and services that private households buy for consumption purposes are developing.
If the consumer price index rises over the long term, this is referred to as inflation.
If it falls over the long term, this is referred to as deflation.
The rate of change is referred to as the inflation rate or price increase rate.
It is a benchmark for monetary value development.
Politicians and central banks use the value as a basis for decision-making.
Basis of the consumer price index: The "representative basket" of the Federal Statistical Office
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the basis for the consumer price index is a representative basket of goods, which includes rent, food, clothing, technical equipment, as well as travel and health services.
Care is taken to ensure that the representative shopping basket only contains goods that are actually consumed by the majority of the population.
Regular checks and updates of the shopping cart are therefore carried out.
Around 600 types of goods are currently in the shopping cart, reports the Federal Statistical Office.
The consumer price index reflects the percentage at which the average of these goods was more expensive or cheaper than in the previous period (the Federal Statistical Office publishes the index once a month).
Despite inflation, currently cheaper: electrical kitchen appliances
Savings can currently be made, for example, with electrical kitchen appliances, i.e. mixers in various designs.
According to the overview of the Federal Statistical Office for February 2022, these are on average 5.7% cheaper than in the previous year and are thus high on the list of products that have become cheaper from 2021 to 2022.
So if you are setting up a kitchen or want to upgrade your kitchen, you should strike now.
Video: Everything expensive?
Ultimate inflation saving tips
Also contrary to the inflation movement: Price development for software, Internet and mobile telephony
Operating systems and other computer software is 5.4 percent cheaper than last year.
In addition, access to online services and the Internet has become somewhat cheaper (0.82 percent).
You can currently save more when signing a mobile phone contract than with an Internet contract: According to the Federal Statistical Office, wireless telecommunications services are 2.2 percent cheaper than in the previous
year
.
Books, audio and video media are currently cheaper than in 2021
Books have fallen in price by 2.4 percent.
So if you still buy reading material for the rest of the cold season, you will get a better deal than last year.
Another possibility is entertainment with audio, video and other data carriers: Here the savings when buying devices are particularly high compared to the previous year: audio, video and other data carriers are 14.3 percent cheaper than in the previous year.
You can also save on groceries
When it comes to groceries, savings can only be made to a small extent. Here, most prices, especially for products that are consumed regularly, went up drastically.
While individual types of vegetables, such as cucumbers, are currently particularly expensive, according to the Federal Statistical Office, the average price for vegetables as a whole (excluding potatoes, provided they are considered vegetables) is 1.9 percent below last year's average price (fresh and frozen vegetables were added together ).
Carrots, for example, have become cheaper (by 13.6 percent), leeks, celery and certain salads.
Buttermilk and milk drinks are 3.4 percent cheaper, ready-made soups and broth by 1.7 percent and ready-to-eat pasta dishes by 1.4 percent.
And although fruit prices are rising extremely, grapes have also become 2.5 percent cheaper.
So if you put the price strategy before your own cravings when shopping, you can even save a little when shopping in the supermarket.
(dpa)
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