Mélina Facchin, edited by Ugo Pascolo 06:47, January 27, 2022

Faced with rising prices, cross-border commuters from Alsace have decided to do their shopping in Germany.

A habit that allows many families to make substantial savings.

Because it must be said that prices can reach 50% of those practiced in France.

Fuel, electricity, raw materials... The French people's wallets have been put to the test lately with inflation.

According to INSEE, the latter should remain around 2.6% in the next six months.

But some cross-border commuters have found the parade, by simply going shopping on the other side of the border.

Thus, many Alsatians do their shopping on the other side of the Rhine, in Germany.  

>> Find the morning of the day in replay and podcast here

In France, "it's really too expensive"

It must be said that many products, completely identical, are much cheaper than with us.

Many Strasbourg families have therefore got into the habit of doing their shopping across the Rhine, especially in the town of Kehl, which is separated by a simple bridge from the Alsatian capital.

Moreover, in this supermarket, you hear almost as much German as French.

And the license plates in the car park attest to this: many Alsatians come to do their shopping here.

This is the case of Katia, Grégory and their one-year-old son.

They are French, they live in Strasbourg, but they haven't done their shopping in France for years.

"It's really too expensive," exclaims the young woman.

"There, you can see that the cabbages are 40 cents a piece. It's impossible to find with us!", she notes, laughing.

Fruit, shower gels, washing powder... Everything is cheaper here.

For these young parents, the baby section is particularly interesting.

“We took between 15 and 20 compotes,” explains Grégory.

At 85 cents here and 1.15 euros in France, if you do the math, in total it's about five euros saved, "explains the father of the family. "I don't see why I'll go to us," concludes Katya.

>> Special purchasing power day to follow on Europe 1, on europe1.fr but also directly from the application

"Everything is increasing in France, so every little economy is good to take"

Paying attention to prices and trying to save money has become even more necessary at this time for the Strasbourg family.

"It feels like everything is increasing," sighs Katia.

"Diesel has gone from 1.40 euro to 1.60 euro. Energy, gas, have also increased. That's why any small saving is good to take," she explains.

At the checkout, the couple confirms, by observing their invoice, that it is really worth the effort to drive a few kilometers.

"We have it for 135 euros", says Katia.

“I think that at home, in France, we would be around 160 euros for the same basket, adds her spouse. “It is sure that it pleases the wallet”. And even if the prices have also increased in recent months in Germany, the small family remains a winner.