die  Teuerungsrate

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtɔʏ̯ʁʊŋsˌʁaːtə/

📈 What does 'die Teuerungsrate' mean?

The word die Teuerungsrate is a key term in economics, commonly translated as the inflation rate or rate of price increase. It measures the percentage by which the average prices of goods and services (represented by a typical Warenkorb or 'basket of goods') have increased over a specific period, usually a year.

A high Teuerungsrate means that the cost of living is rising, and you can buy less with your money (loss of purchasing power). A low or even negative Teuerungsrate (called Deflation) is also generally considered unfavorable for an economy.

There is only one meaning and one article for this word: die Teuerungsrate.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Teuerungsrate

The noun "Teuerungsrate" is feminine. Therefore, the definite article is always die.

It's a compound noun: die Teuerung (increase in price) + die Rate (rate). The gender is determined by the last part ("Rate"), which is feminine.

Declension (Singular)

Plural

The plural "die Teuerungsraten" is used when referring to rates from different periods, countries, or for different categories of goods. The declension is regular:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die aktuelle Teuerungsrate bereitet vielen Menschen Sorgen.
   (The current inflation rate worries many people.)
2. Die Europäische Zentralbank versucht, die Teuerungsrate unter 2% zu halten.
   (The European Central Bank tries to keep the inflation rate below 2%.)
3. Im letzten Quartal sank die Teuerungsrate leicht.
   (In the last quarter, the inflation rate decreased slightly.)
4. Man verglich die Teuerungsraten verschiedener EU-Länder.
   (They compared the inflation rates of different EU countries.)

💡 How to use 'die Teuerungsrate'?

"Die Teuerungsrate" is a specific technical term from economics and is frequently used in news reports, economic analyses, and political discussions.

• Context: It almost always relates to measuring price changes and their impact on the economy and the population.
• Distinction:
  • Inflationsrate: This is a very common synonym. The terms are often used interchangeably. "Teuerungsrate" might slightly emphasize the noticeable price increase experienced by consumers.
  • Preissteigerung: A more general term meaning 'price increase', which can also refer to individual products or services, whereas Teuerungsrate usually refers to the average (basket of goods).
  • Lebenshaltungskosten: 'Cost of living'. Closely related, but describes the total expenses for private households, which are influenced by the Teuerungsrate.
• Tone: Usually neutral to concerned, as high inflation rates are often perceived negatively.

One often speaks of a hohe (high), niedrige (low), steigende (rising) or fallende (falling) Teuerungsrate.

🧠 Memory Aids for Teuerungsrate

Article Mnemonic (die)

The word ends in "-rate". Many German nouns ending in -e, especially abstract concepts like a Rate (rate), are feminine. Think: die Rate, so it's die Teuerungsrate.

Meaning Mnemonic

Think of things getting more teuer (expensive) - that's the Teuerung part. The Rate at which this happens is the Teuerungsrate. It's the 'expensive-ness rate' or inflation rate.

🔄 Synonyms, Antonyms & Similar Words

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Kostensteigerung: Cost increase; can refer to specific costs (e.g., production costs), not necessarily general consumer prices.
• Warenkorb: Basket of goods; the collection of goods and services used to calculate the Teuerungsrate.
• Verbraucherpreisindex (VPI): Consumer Price Index (CPI); the specific index used in many countries to measure the Teuerungsrate.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Ökonomen die Treppe statt des Aufzugs?

Wegen der steigenden Teuerungsrate! 😉

(Why do economists take the stairs instead of the elevator?)
(Because of the rising inflation rate!)

📜 A Little Poem

Die Rate, die uns Sorgen macht,
hat über Nacht den Preis entfacht.
Das Geld, es schmilzt, wird langsam knapp,
die Teuerungsrate hält uns auf Trab.
Mal steigt sie hoch, mal fällt sie tief,
ein ökonomisch schiefer Brief.

(The rate that causes us worry,
has overnight ignited prices in a flurry.
The money melts, becomes slowly tight,
the inflation rate keeps us busy day and night.
Sometimes it climbs high, sometimes falls low,
an economically skewed letter, you know.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich messe, wie die Preise klettern,
lass' manchmal Haushaltskassen wettern.
Man nennt mich oft auch Inflation,
in Prozenten geb' ich meinen Ton.

Was bin ich? ... die Teuerungsrate

(I measure how the prices climb,
sometimes make household budgets whine.
I'm often also called inflation,
in percent, I give my indication.

What am I?)
(... the inflation rate / Teuerungsrate)

🌐 More Interesting Facts

Word Composition

The word "Teuerungsrate" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Die Teuerung: The process of becoming more expensive, the price increase. (Derived from the adjective "teuer" = expensive)
• Die Rate: A rate, a speed, a percentage.

Together, the meaning is: The rate (speed/measure) of the Teuerung (price increase).

Economic Significance

The Teuerungsrate is one of the central indicators in macroeconomics. It influences interest rate decisions by central banks, wage negotiations, and consumer spending behavior.