die
Preisentwicklung
📈 What does "die Preisentwicklung" mean?
Die Preisentwicklung describes the change in prices for goods, services, or assets over a specific period. It can be increasing (Inflation, Teuerung - rise in prices), decreasing (Deflation), or stable.
It's a crucial indicator in economics used to analyze purchasing power, inflation, and general economic trends. You observe die Preisentwicklung for things like:
- Lebensmittel (groceries)
- Energie (energy - electricity, gas, petrol)
- Immobilien (real estate)
- Aktien (stocks)
- Rohstoffe (commodities)
The word is feminine, so it always takes the article die: die Preisentwicklung.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar in Detail
"Preisentwicklung" is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular because it often describes a general trend. The plural ("die Preisentwicklungen") is possible when referring to multiple specific developments (e.g., in different sectors).
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Preisentwicklung |
| Genitive | der | Preisentwicklung |
| Dative | der | Preisentwicklung |
| Accusative | die | Preisentwicklung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Preisentwicklungen |
| Genitive | der | Preisentwicklungen |
| Dative | den | Preisentwicklungen |
| Accusative | die | Preisentwicklungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Preisentwicklung am Energiemarkt bereitet vielen Verbrauchern Sorgen.
(The price development in the energy market worries many consumers.) - Ökonomen analysieren die Preisentwicklung, um die Inflation vorherzusagen.
(Economists analyze price development to predict inflation.) - Im letzten Quartalsbericht wurde die positive Preisentwicklung bei Immobilien hervorgehoben.
(The last quarterly report highlighted the positive price development for real estate.) - Wir beobachten unterschiedliche Preisentwicklungen in verschiedenen Branchen.
(We are observing different price developments in various sectors.)
📊 How to Use "Preisentwicklung"?
The term die Preisentwicklung is primarily used in economic, financial, and journalistic contexts.
- Wirtschaftsnachrichten (Economic news): Reports on inflation, deflation, market analysis.
- Unternehmensberichte (Company reports): Analysis of costs and sales prices.
- Verbraucherinformation (Consumer information): Discussions about the cost of living.
- Politische Diskussionen (Political discussions): Debates about economic policies and their impact on prices.
In everyday conversation, people might more commonly talk about "steigende Preise" (rising prices) or "sinkende Preise" (falling prices), but "Preisentwicklung" is the more formal umbrella term for these changes.
⚠️ Don't confuse "Preisentwicklung" with "Preisgestaltung" (pricing, the process of setting prices) or "Preisniveaustabilität" (price level stability, a state without significant price changes).
💡 Mnemonics for Preisentwicklung
Article Mnemonic (die): Nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of other "-ung" words like die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment). So, it's die Entwicklung, therefore die Preisentwicklung.
Meaning Mnemonic: Break it down: Preis sounds like price. Entwicklung relates to development or evolution. So, "Preisentwicklung" is the development of prices over time.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Preisstabilität: Price stability.
- Preisgleichheit: Price equality (less common).
- Preiskonstanz: Price constancy/stability.
Similar, but Different Terms:
- Preisgestaltung: Pricing (the strategy/act of setting prices).
- Preissetzungsmacht: Pricing power (a company's ability to influence prices).
- Preisniveaustabilität: Price level stability (an economic policy goal).
😄 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Ökonom seine Kristallkugel: "Wie wird die Preisentwicklung nächstes Jahr?" Antwortet die Kugel: "Die Preise werden sich ändern!" Der Ökonom: "Genauer bitte!" Die Kugel: "Okay, sie werden entweder steigen oder fallen... oder gleich bleiben. Das kostet jetzt 500 Euro – nächstes Jahr wahrscheinlich mehr."
English: An economist asks his crystal ball: "What will the price development be next year?" The ball replies: "Prices will change!" The economist: "More specific, please!" The ball: "Okay, they will either rise or fall... or stay the same. That'll be 500 Euros now – probably more next year."
📜 Poem about Price Development
German:
Die Preise tanzen, auf und nieder,
Mal teurer Sprit, mal bill'ger Flieder.
Die Entwicklung, sie kennt keine Ruh',
Mal gibt's ein Plus, mal Minus dazu.
Der Euro rollt, die Kosten steigen,
Wird sich der Trend zum Bess'ren neigen?
Die Kurve zeigt's, mal steil, mal flach,
So bleibt das Leben stets auf Trab.
English:
Prices dance, both up and down,
Expensive fuel, cheap flowers in town.
Development knows no rest, you see,
Sometimes a plus, sometimes decree
Of minuses. The Euro rolls, costs soar,
Will the trend improve, what's in store?
The curve reveals, now steep, now flat,
Keeping life busy, just like that.
❓ Riddle
German:
Ich habe keinen festen Stand,
Verändere mich im ganzen Land.
Mal mach' ich reicher, mal mach' ich ärmer,
Im Winter kälter, im Sommer wärmer (scheinbar).
Ökonomen folgen meiner Spur,
Was bin ich nur, was bin ich nur?
English:
I have no fixed position,
I change throughout the nation.
Sometimes I make you richer, sometimes poorer,
Seemingly colder in winter, warmer when it's torrid.
Economists follow my trace,
What am I, in this time and space?
Solution: Die Preisentwicklung (Price development)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Preisentwicklung" is a compound noun, formed from:
- Der Preis: The price - the amount of money required for a good or service.
- Die Entwicklung: The development - the process of change or progress over time.
Together, it literally describes the development of prices over time.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Preisentwicklung?
The word "Preisentwicklung" is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Preisentwicklung (singular) and die Preisentwicklungen (plural). It describes the change in prices over time.