Mélina Facchin, edited by Yanis Darras 9:06 a.m., May 18, 2022, modified at 9:06 a.m., May 18, 2022

As prices continue to rise in France, more and more Germans are choosing to come and shop in France.

Because, on the other side of the Rhine, inflation is breaking records.

Thus, food prices increased by 8.5% in 2021. A figure twice as high as in France.

Inflation continues in France and now reaches in April, +4.8% over one year, assures INSEE.

A significant figure which weighs on French households and which worries the government.

The latter should quickly propose an anti-inflation plan.

However, France is a "good student" in Europe.

In some countries, inflation was close to 10% in April: +8.4% over one year in Spain, +9 in April over one year in the United Kingdom and even +7.4% in Germany.

From now on, across the Rhine, the package of pasta costs 2 euros, against 80 euro cents in France. 

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High German prices

An unbeatable price that attracts Germans.

In a supermarket in Bas-Rhin, Cathy, cashier, sees more and more German customers passing through her store.

"We have 20 to 30% more than usual," she says.

In a few months, the situation was completely reversed.

While the French used to shop in Germany before the pandemic to save money, it is now the Germans who cross the Rhine. 

Across the Rhine, food prices have increased by 8.5% in one year.

This is more than double that in France.

So, for cross-border commuters like Arald, shopping in France rather than in Germany is really worth it: "We feel the inflation a lot here. The prices are getting higher and higher in Germany. Everything is cheaper here, for example fish or cheese. But anyway, I was already coming to France to stock up."

A whole lot cheaper

Because food is not the only reason for Germans to come to France.

"It's 30 cents less per liter," said a German motorist at the supermarket station.

"I am only 10 kilometers from the border. So I come to refuel at least once a week in France", explains another driver, also German.

From now on, in supermarket car parks, French registration plates are next to German plates, to the delight of shopkeepers.