Rising prices push Germans to cut spending: poll

Among those saving money, 76 said they were dining out less, while 69 were cutting spending on new purchases and groceries. About 65 said they were spending less on fuel. Consumers were also reducing spending on energy, holidays and leisure activities, with 59 cutting energy use, 57 scaling back holidays and 55 spending less on leisure. Higher fuel prices are also changing mobility patterns. Around 31 of petrol and diesel car users said they were driving less than a few weeks ago, while 68 reported no change. The effect was more pronounced among lower-income households, with 44 of those earning under 2,500 per month driving less, compared with 24 of those living in households earning more than 4,000. Those who rely on a car every day were far less likely to reduce their driving than occasional drivers. Those cutting back on driving often switched to other modes of transport, with 51 cycling more, 42 walking more and 35 using public transport more frequently. About 22 reported carpooling more often. The survey polled 1,005 people on April 24 and 27.