The consumer
- Consumer Profile
- According to Eurostat, in 2019, the median age of the population was 46, the third oldest population in the world. The population is aging, since the median age was 44.3 years in 2010. Germany's population rose by 148,000 (+0.2%) in 2019. While 13.6% of the population is under 14 years old, 64.9% is between 15 and 64 years old and 21.5% is over 65 years old. On average in 2019, households are made up of 2 people while 41.9% of households are people living alone, mostly women. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that the number of one-person households is expected to rise in the near future. The population is 48.8% men and 51.2% women. It is estimated that 14.3% of German population is foreign and 77.4% of the population lives in urban areas, and the cities of Berlin Hamburg, Munich and Cologne are the most populated. Germany has one of the highest levels of education: 86% of people aged 25 to 54 have completed upper secondary education. Moreover, Destatis accounts that in 2018 the proportion of vocational and continuing training of all pupils in upper secondary education in Germany (47%) was higher than the OECD average (42%). Among the active population, 22% work in raw material extraction, and industry, 20% in business organization, accounting, law and administration, 18% in health, social and education, 13% in transport, logistics, protection and security and 12% in commercial services, retail, hotels and tourism.
- Purchasing Power
- According to the Word Bank, GDP per capita PPP was estimated at $ 56,052 in 2019. The average monthly gross income of households in Germany amounted to 4,846 euros in 2018, according to results of the Sample Survey of Income and Expenditure (latest data available). Germans have an average per capita purchasing power of €23,766 in 2020 according to GfK’s latest purchasing power study. Private consumption and expenditure is 2,704 euros, according to Destatis. The Gini index is 0.31, and fits into European averages. Wage inequalities between men and women have been decreasing since 2014. According to Destatis, women in Germany earned 20% less than men in 2019. The earnings difference between men and women, the unadjusted gender pay gap, was 1 percentage point lower than in the previous years. Women earned an average 17.72 euros per hour in gross terms, that is 4.44 euros less than men (22.16 euros). In addition, the risk of poverty rate is higher for women, over 65s and non-Germans. In total, 19% of the population is at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
- Consumer Behaviour
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Germany is a mass consumer society. Before making a purchase, beyond the price, German consumers like to learn as much as possible about other similar products, features, provenance etc. According to some studies, German consumers are among the most demanding in the world. Some consumers are willing to pay more for a better quality product. Consumer confidence is high (above the average for OECD countries) but it dropped by 5.9% point in September 2020. Online shopping has become the norm in Germany and the country is Europe's largest online market . Consumers are relatively open to the products of international companies. However, local, national and European products may sometimes be preferred.Germans are relatively loyal to brands if its a quality product. About 60% of the population is willing to buy the same brand several times in this case. Social networks are a useful way to learn about products, but also in the discovery process. Comments left by other users can determine a purchase decision. However, due to concerns about data collection by companies, Germans can be passive users of social networks.
Environmental awareness is common among German consumers. This is reflected in consumption, with the development of organic products, vegan, using little energy etc. In addition, local product consumption attracts some consumers who are willing to pay more for it. The second-hand market is very widespread in Germany, especially in the big cities, for economic, ecological and social reasons. This translates with the purchase in fripperies, second-hand stores but also with online exchanges. The collaborative economy is widely developed, both with VTC platforms, apartment rentals and carpooling. - Consumer Recourse to Credit
- Germany is a country where cash payment is widespread. Debit cards are used and widely accepted, although there are places where only cash is accepted. Credit cards are less common and may be refused in some establishments such as small shops, restaurants and hotels. Household debt to GDP is down in Germany (52.5% of GDP in the second quarter of 2018). Debt is composed of long-term debt (real estate), which is rising, and short-term debts (consumer loans) which are declining. The Germans have about 760 euros of debt per person in 2018. The level of household debt is relatively low compared to other European countries with real estate debt being lower and therefore consumers need for less loans. The majority of loans are provided by banks and traditional banking providers. Loans are used to finance housing, white goods (refrigerators, washing machines, electronic products). The trend should continue in 2019, with an increase in mortgage loans but a slowdown in consumer credit. In the second quarter of 2018, German households contracted 11.8 billion euros of new loans.
- Growing Sectors
- Leisure and culture, education services, vehicles, catering services, accommodation services, telephony, dishes and household utensils, garden equipment, audio-visual equipment, food and footwear.
- Consumers Associations
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VZBV , Federation of German Consumer Associations
TEST , Product Testing Foundation
Verbraucher , Consumer Initiative
