- Title: Germany offers money-saving measures for commuters as inflation soars
- Date: 1st June 2022
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JUNE 1, 2022) (REUTERS) PASSENGERS IN BERLIN MAIN TRAIN STATION IN GERMANY AS TRAIN ARRIVES DISPLAY SHOWING SCHEDULED TRAINS PASSENGERS ENTERING TRAIN VARIOUS OF WOMAN BUYING 9-EURO-TICKET AT TICKET MACHINE 9-EURO-TICKET BEING HELD IN FRONT OF TICKET MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, INKE STEUDING-EBERHARDT, SAYING "Actually it's fine. I think it's a great idea. But since we live in the countryside it's absolutely not possible for us to get around like this. We definitely also need a car." REGIONAL TRAIN LEAVING BERLIN MAIN TRAIN STATION PASSENGERS INSIDE TRAIN FEMALE PASSENGERS SITTING IN SEAT NEXT TO WINDOW DISPLAY SHOWING UPCOMING STOPS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, MARION (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING: "I think it's good because I'm telling myself now: Every week I'll travel somewhere and look at whatever things I want to." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, CONNY (NO LAST NAME GIVEN), SAYING: "Now so many people are taking the train and that's why I assume that soon there'll be issues with overcrowded trains. The German railway has said that they can't arrange for more trains to run at least not as many as might be needed. And therefore I'm a bit afraid about that in summer you want to travel somewhere and you can't because the trains are crowded." VARIOUS OF PASSENGER FRANCOIS LOCHER ON TRAIN WORKING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, FRANCOIS LOCHER, SAYING: "I think it's a great idea, truly. And I hope that more people will use it and yes, I think it's great." TRAIN ARRIVING AT TRAIN STATION VARIOUS OF SUBWAY STOP "ALEXANDERPLATZ" IN BERLIN SUBWAY ARRIVING PASSENGERS LEAVING SUBWAY PASSENGERS AT SUBWAY STOP TICKET MACHINE WITH ADVERTISEMENT FOR 9-EURO-TICKET READING (German) "3 MONTHS OF TRAVELLING ALL OVER GERMANY, OUR GRAND OFFER" (NOTE: Ad text is a pun in German) TICKET MACHINE WITH ADVERTISEMENT FOR 9-EURO-TICKET READING (German) "3 MONTHS OF TRAVELLING ALL OVER GERMANY, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THIS GENEROUS BEFORE" (NOTE: Ad text is a pun in German) 9-EURO-TICKET IN FRONT OF PEOPLE EXITING SUBWAY FRANKFURT, GERMANY (JUNE 1, 2022) (REUTERS) CARS IN FRONT OF OIL! PETROL STATION DISPLAY SHOWING PETROL PRICES IN EURO MAN FILLING UP CAR WITH PETROL WOMAN FILLING UP CAR WITH PETROL CARS WAITING IN LINE IN FRONT OF PETROL STATION MAN FILLING UP CAR CAR LEAVING PETROL STATION WOMAN FILLING UP CAR AT ARAL PETROL STATION SHELL PETROL STATION SHELL LOGO VARIOUS OF DISPLAY SHOWING PETROL PRICES IN EURO SHELL WRITTEN ON TOP OF PETROL STATION CARS DRIVING IN FRONT OF PETROL STATION MUNICH, GERMANY (JUNE 1, 2022) (REUTERS) MAN FILLING UP CAR PETROL PUMP COUNTING PETROL AND PRICE MAN FINISHED FILLING UP CAR MAN RETURNS FUEL PUMP (SOUNDBITE) (German) CUSTOMER AT PETROL STATION, FABIAN WINKLER, SAYING: "It's about 20 cents less, so noticeably cheaper, it's a drastic difference." VARIOUS OF WOMAN FILLING UP HER CAR (SOUNDBITE) (German) CUSTOMER AT PETROL STATION, RUDI BAYERSCHMIDT, SAYING: "It's good it's cheaper, that's obvious. But that the prices went up before and then they go down, that's not good." (SOUNDBITE) (German) CUSTOMER AT PETROL STATION, MICHAEL STEIN, SAYING: "I haven't noticed anything until now. I filled my car last week with diesel for 1.92 Euro (2.05 Dollar) and today the diesel costs 1.97 Euro (2.11 Dollar) so not really noticeable." FUEL PUMP
- Embargoed: 15th June 2022 13:30
- Keywords: fuel costs germany inflation inflation meassures public transport
- Location: Berlin, Frankfurt + Munich, GERMANY
- City: Berlin, Frankfurt + Munich, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Europe,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001199301062022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Record-high inflation caused for the most part by the war in Ukraine has led to Germany introducing measures to ease the burden on consumers.
Starting on Wednesday, June 1, people in Germany will be able to buy public transport tickets covering travel across Germany for 9 Euros (9.6 Dollar) a month.
To combat high fuel prices the German government has also lowered taxes on fuel.
While many German train passengers, such as Francois Locher, were in favour of the ticket others were afraid the cheap tickets would lead to crowded trains and busier holiday destinations.
Some petrol stations in Germany meanwhile have already lowered their prices to the delight of customers. "It's about 20 cents less, so noticeable cheaper, it's a drastic difference," said Fabian Winkler in Munich.
Others were more sceptical about the tax relief actually reaching them. "I haven't noticed anything until now," said customer Michael Stein.
The measures are scheduled to run for three months, starting in June until the end of August. Inflation in Germany has risen to 7.9% in May.
Reasons for the record-high are the continued war in Ukraine and supply chain issues due to COVID-19.
(Production: Tanya Wood, Anna Dittrich) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None