Nuremberg/Frankfurt (dpa/lhe) – According to a new forecast by the Nuremberg market research company GfK, people in Bavaria continue to have the greatest purchasing power in Germany. With a net income per capita of EUR 28,453 in the coming year, the residents of the Free State are still at the top of the federal states, ahead of Baden-Württemberg (EUR 28,125), which has displaced Hamburg (EUR 28,084) from second place. Hessen remains in fourth place with 27,088 euros. Among the ten strongest districts, Hesse is represented with the Hochtaunus district (5th place, 33,491 euros) and the Main-Taunus district (6th place, 33,454 euros) – alone among Bavarian districts.
Overall, according to the GfK forecast, net income in Germany will increase by 3.3 percent in the coming year – to a total of 2186.7 billion euros. This does not by far outweigh the losses caused by the increased inflation. “After purchasing power had already recorded significant growth this year, a moderate increase in purchasing power of 3.3 percent is also expected for 2023. However, Germans will not really see any of this in their wallets,” said GfK retail expert Filip Vojtech.
At the same time as incomes, consumer prices continued to rise. “It is to be expected that the inflation rate will only slowly return to the two percent target set by the European Central Bank from 2024,” said the expert. “That’s why the Germans will possibly also refrain from making major purchases in 2023 and instead put more money aside for bad times.” The city of Gelsenkirchen brings up the rear nationwide with 20,862 euros net per capita. The city in the Ruhr area is thus more than 20 percent below the national average.
