Germany sees low household savings as living costs rise

An Ipsos survey released on 2 March 2026 found that 27 % of German households have no savings at all. The main reason cited by 47 % of respondents was insufficient income, while 6 % said rising prices forced them to dip into their reserves.

Full‑time workers earned an average gross salary of €4,784 in April 2025, but about one‑fifth of full‑time employees are classified as low‑earners. The study also highlighted stark wealth inequality: the richest 10 % of households own roughly half of Germany’s total private‑household financial assets, whereas around 20 million households hold just 8 % of those assets.

Overall, the survey indicates a widening gap between household earnings and the ability to save, driven by high living costs and an uneven distribution of wealth.