According to a survey by the Nuremberg-based market research institute GfK, the majority of German residents are going out to restaurants less because of the price increase.
The survey shows that 52% of people in Germany eat out less because of higher prices.
This is the opinion of 2,024 men and women aged 18 to 74, reported GfK.
The study, published in Munich this week, was commissioned by the Bavarian Center for Tourism.
The trend could be boosted by the re-increase in value-added tax, or VAT, which reached 19% from 7% at the start of this year. It was reduced to 7% during the COVID-19 pandemic and restaurateurs pleaded with the government to keep it at that rate, but it refused.
More than half of those surveyed said that higher VAT would lead to fewer visits to restaurants if it led to further price increases.
However, the survey found that just under a quarter of respondents eat out at least once or more a week, and another 28% eat out at least once a month.
On the other hand, 16% say they never or almost never eat out. Half of that group say they can't afford it.
With 64%, Italian food is the most popular cuisine among customers, followed by German or regional cuisine with 54%./BGNES
