Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the rising cost of living in Germany, illustrating how even middle-class families are struggling to adjust their spending habits due to inflation and economic challenges [6][40]. Group 1: Public Transport Costs - The cost of a single bus ticket from a small town to Munich is 10.2 euros (approximately 85 RMB), which is perceived as excessively high for a 35-minute journey [10][12]. - The author notes that commuting costs can exceed 100 RMB for a round trip, leading to concerns about affordability for daily work [13][12]. - A bus driver empathizes with the high fare and offers a reduced fare option, reflecting a sense of community support among ordinary people facing financial difficulties [19][18]. Group 2: Changes in Consumer Behavior - Conversations with neighbors reveal a shift in shopping habits, with families now opting for discount supermarkets like ALDI due to rising prices [22][26]. - A middle-class family that previously preferred premium brands is now calculating costs more carefully, switching to cheaper alternatives for everyday items [27][28]. - The article emphasizes the stark contrast in consumer behavior, where even middle-class households are now price-sensitive and reconsidering their purchasing decisions [26][28]. Group 3: Personal Financial Struggles - A 75-year-old woman faces financial difficulties after her partner leaves her, highlighting the challenges of managing a mortgage and living expenses on a single retirement income [36][39]. - The woman’s situation illustrates the broader issue of financial insecurity among older adults in Germany, who may not have sufficient savings to cope with unexpected life changes [39][38]. - The article discusses how economic downturns and rising living costs have led to increased financial strain on individuals and families, even those who were previously stable [40][41].

Group 1 - Consumer goods prices in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been rising, with a month-on-month increase of 0.2% in July. The largest price increases were seen in transportation services (2.2%), entertainment (0.7%), and accommodation (0.6%) [1] - Year-on-year, the overall price level increased by 4.8% in July, with food and non-alcoholic beverages experiencing a significant rise of 10.8%. Other notable increases included healthcare costs (6.1%) and accommodation (7.5%) [1] - Certain categories, such as clothing and footwear (-5.3%) and transportation services (-3.2%), experienced price declines [1] Group 2 - Economists indicate that while inflation for food and consumer goods has reached record levels, wages have not increased correspondingly, leading to potential adjustments in consumer spending patterns [2] - The Consumer Association of the Republika Srpska noted that rising prices, particularly for food, have forced consumers to cut back on daily expenditures, highlighting the disconnect between current prices and income levels [2] - There is criticism directed at the government for benefiting from high prices through increased VAT revenue, while failing to address the high cost of living [2]

Group 1 - Japanese local governments are beginning or planning to impose accommodation taxes to address infrastructure pressures from an increase in foreign tourists [1] - A survey indicated that 42 local governments have started or plan to implement accommodation taxes, with over 90 more considering it [1] - The accommodation tax rates are set at approximately 200 yen (about 9.8 RMB) per person per night, with some high-end accommodations charging up to 1000 yen (about 48.8 RMB) or more [1] Group 2 - Concerns exist among some local governments regarding the accommodation tax, particularly about the clarity of tax usage and the burden on small accommodation operators [2] - Japan's core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.1% year-on-year in July, marking eight consecutive months of inflation above 3% [2] - The increase in food prices is the primary driver of inflation, with significant price hikes in various food categories [2] Group 3 - Japan's real GDP grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter, translating to an annualized growth rate of 1.0% [3] - Economic risks remain a concern, especially in light of past economic downturns linked to external factors such as U.S. tariffs [3]

Group 1 - Since the announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" by President Trump in April, U.S. businesses have temporarily coped with tariff impacts by stockpiling and sharing costs with upstream and downstream companies [1] - As of August 7, the trade-weighted average tariff rate imposed by the U.S. on all products globally has risen to 20.11%, significantly higher than the 2.44% at the beginning of the year [1] - A report from Harvard Business School indicates that from early March to the end of July, major U.S. retailers raised prices of imported and domestic goods by approximately 4% and 2%, respectively [1] Group 2 - Professor Justin Wolfers notes that tariffs appear to have shifted from "experimental" to "permanent," leading to anticipated price increases as businesses adjust their strategies [2] - Procter & Gamble announced plans to raise average prices of about 25% of personal care and household products by 2.5% to offset an additional $1 billion in costs due to tariffs [2] - Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden indicated that new tariff policies will increase costs by $200 million in the second half of the year, leading to inevitable price hikes [2]

Group 1: Consumer Price Index and Inflation - The overall consumer price index in Japan, excluding fresh food, is reported at 111.6 (2020=100), reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.1%, maintaining above 3% for the eighth consecutive month [1] - Food prices, excluding fresh agricultural products, have risen by 8.3%, marking a continuous increase for 12 months; rice prices have surged by 90.7%, nearly doubling from the previous year [3] Group 2: Impact of Weather and Agricultural Prices - Extreme summer heat has led to poor harvests of rice and vegetables, driving up fresh food prices; the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice reached 3737 yen, an increase of 195 yen from the previous week [6] - The average price of tomatoes is 40% higher than the average over the past five years, with other vegetables like cucumbers, eggplants, and carrots also seeing sustained price increases [8] Group 3: Government Subsidies and Support Measures - Local governments are implementing subsidy policies to alleviate the financial burden on residents due to rising prices [8] - Fukui Prefecture's Wakasa Town is distributing local shopping vouchers worth 10,000 yen to all residents, usable from August 9 to December 31, as part of ongoing welfare initiatives [18]

Core Insights - Japan's core consumer price index (CPI) excluding fresh food rose by 3.1% year-on-year in July, reaching 111.6, marking the eighth consecutive month of inflation above 3% [1] - The primary driver of rising prices in Japan is the accelerated increase in food prices, with significant hikes observed across various categories including grains, snacks, cooking food, dining out, meat, and beverages [1] - The price of ordinary japonica rice surged by 89.9%, while coffee beans and chocolate saw increases of 51.0% and 44.4% respectively [1] - Mobile communication fees and hotel accommodation costs rose by 11.8% and 6.0% respectively [1] - The inflation rate in July showed a decline compared to the previous month, partly due to government subsidies on gasoline prices and summer electricity and gas fees [1] - A comprehensive tuition fee waiver policy for public high schools implemented in April has led to a year-on-year decrease in education service prices [1] - Economists suggest that achieving a virtuous cycle of rising prices and wages in Japan may still require time, as general service prices reflecting wage trends have also shown a year-on-year slowdown, and real wages continue to decline [1]

Core Insights - The essential goods prices in Mongolia increased by 1.3% month-on-month in July 2025 according to the National Statistics Office of Mongolia [1] Price Changes - Potato prices rose significantly by 54.2%, reaching 2385 MNT (approximately 0.66 USD) per kilogram [1] - High-gluten flour prices increased by 2.5%, now priced at 3263 MNT (approximately 0.91 USD) per kilogram [1] - Bone-in beef prices saw a 1.3% rise, priced at 21565 MNT (approximately 6.01 USD) per kilogram [1] - Boneless beef prices increased by 0.8%, now at 24565 MNT (approximately 6.84 USD) per kilogram [1] - Bread prices experienced a slight increase of 0.2%, priced at 2497 MNT (approximately 0.7 USD) per kilogram [1] - Vegetable oil prices rose by 1.3%, now at 7548 MNT (approximately 2.1 USD) per kilogram [1] - Apple prices increased by 2%, reaching 7363 MNT (approximately 2.05 USD) per kilogram [1] Price Decreases - Prices for horse meat, bone-in mutton, low-gluten flour, milk, radishes, cabbages, onions, turnips, and beets experienced slight declines [1]

Group 1: Economic Impact of Tariffs - The implementation of new tariffs by the U.S. government has led to increased uncertainty in the economy and a clear trend of rising costs for consumers across various products, from coffee to household items [1][2] - As of June, U.S. consumers had already absorbed 22% of the tariff costs, with expectations that this will rise to 67% by October due to the ongoing transfer of costs from businesses to consumers [2] - The trade-weighted average tariff rate for all products in the U.S. has surged to 20.11%, significantly higher than the 2.44% at the beginning of the year [2] Group 2: Price Increases by Companies - Procter & Gamble announced plans to raise prices on approximately 25% of its personal care and household products by an average of 2.5% to offset an additional $1 billion in costs due to tariffs [4] - Retail prices for imported goods have increased by about 4%, while domestic goods have seen a 2% rise from March to July [3] - Companies like Mohawk Industries and Gear Drive are also planning to pass on tariff costs to consumers, indicating a broader trend of price increases across various sectors [4][5] Group 3: Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics - Concerns about rising prices and potential inflation are leading to changes in consumer purchasing behavior, with some customers reducing their buying volumes [5] - The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is complicating operations for companies, with reports of a 50% decrease in inquiries from international buyers [5] - Companies are restructuring their operations to manage increased costs, including layoffs and discontinuing certain products to maintain profitability [5]

Group 1 - The impact of U.S. government tariff policies is increasingly affecting the daily lives of American citizens, with about half of Americans citing high grocery prices as a major source of stress [1] - The price effects of the tariff policies have become more apparent, with prices remaining relatively stable in the spring but beginning to rise in May and continuing to increase in June [1] - Prices for goods typically produced outside the U.S., such as appliances, furniture, and toys, have all seen increases [1] Group 2 - Rising prices are causing significant stress for American consumers, with individuals expressing frustration over constantly changing prices, particularly for fruits [1]

（本报首尔8月13日电） 《 人民日报 》（ 2025年08月14日 17 版） 农产品价格上涨明显加重了韩国民众的生活负担。韩国统计厅8月11日发布的7月物价数据显示，尽管整 体消费者物价指数（CPI）同比涨幅维持在2.1%的水平，但食品及非酒精饮料价格指数同比上涨3.5%。 首尔市民卢泳和对记者表示，虽然公布的统计数据显示整体物价上涨并不多，但民众日常生活经常购买 的农产品确实贵了，感觉生活开销增加了不少。"现在我们也有意识减少外出就餐和购买高价水果，把 钱用在其他更需要的地方。"卢泳和说。 韩国农村经济研究院预计，受7月高温及暴雨等极端天气影响，韩国农产品总体供应量有所下降，预计8 月农产品价格还可能继续上涨。为此，韩国企划财政部近日发布了一系列稳定物价措施，包括将政府储 备白菜每日供应量较7月扩大2倍，增加到200至300吨；对西瓜等受极端天气影响较大的果蔬实施价格优 惠补贴；加快鸡肉进口审批流程，在7月底完成4000吨进口量的基础上，8月中旬再进一步增加进口量； 从7月28日到8月21日，与44家线上和线下物流企业合作，对水产品实施最多50%的打折优惠活动等。 韩国汉城大学经济学教授金相奉认为，与民 ...