Income differences - Wagenknecht: Gap in household income is too large
In reality, Thuringia's disposable household income is significantly below the federal average, but it ranks quite well in the east. According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office in response to a query from the Bundestag faction of The Left (DIE LINKE) as reported by dpa, the disposable income in Thuringia last year was 36,857 Euro.
Rank 13 in the federal states comparison
The German average was 43,795 Euro, while that of the eastern German federal states and Berlin was 38,238 Euro. Lower than in Thuringia was the disposable income in Saxony-Anhalt (35,400 Euro), Saxony (36,278 Euro), and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (36,485 Euro). The Free State thus ranked 13th in the federal states comparison.
"A 7,000 Euro difference in income in Thuringia compared to the federal average: This shows that there can be no talk of equivalent living conditions," explained Wagenknecht. "And in the past three years, household incomes have also suffered significant losses in purchasing power. And the lower the incomes, the more citizens are suffering from price increases in food and energy, which have risen even more than other goods. Life must become affordable again." DIE LINKE is one of the parties planning to contest the Thuringian state election on September 1, 2021.
Less money on the table
When it comes to disposable income, taxes and duties have already been deducted from the gross income. However, income from public transfer payments such as child or housing benefits, capital gains, and rental and lease income are taken into account.
According to the Federal Statistical Office's figures, there is a significant gap between East and West in terms of capital gains from savings accounts or stocks, as well as rental and lease income. In Thuringia, these income sources averaged 639 Euro, while in Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, they amounted to 1,914 Euro.
In terms of gross income, Thuringia ranked second below Brandenburg among the eastern German federal states last year with 50,338 Euro. Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were all below 50,000 Euro.
- Despite ranking 13th in disposable household income among German federal states, Thuringia falls significantly below the national average of 43,795 Euro, with a figure of 36,857 Euro.
- Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with a disposable income of 36,485 Euro, and Saxony-Anhalt, at 35,400 Euro, both have lower incomes than Thuringia, as reported by the Bundestag faction of The Left.
- Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent figure in the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, noted a 7,000 Euro difference in income in Thuringia compared to the national average, emphasizing the impossibility of equating living conditions.
- The social welfare party DIE LINKE, which plans to contest the Thuringian state election on September 1, 2021, emphasized the impact of income differences and price increases on lower-income households, particularly in food and energy expenses.
- In terms of gross income, Thuringia ranked second below Brandenburg among the eastern German federal states last year, with a figure of 50,338 Euro, indicating less money on the table for households compared to other regions.
- In the east, including Thuringia, Berlin, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the disposable household income is lower than the national average, with disparities in income sources such as capital gains and rental income contributing to these differences.
