Crafts expect rising costs for customers

The trade expects rising costs for customers. "The rising energy prices as well as higher costs for metals, building materials and, in some cases, electronic components are increasing cost pressure in the trades," said Holger Schwannecke, Secretary General of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), to the dpa news agency. Together with rising wage and additional wage costs, this is increasingly reflected in the offered prices. “Ultimately, customers also bear the consequences: craft services become more expensive and necessary investments become more difficult to finance.”

The current ZDH economic report shows that companies are expecting sales prices to continue to rise and increase even further. »That's a warning signal. We have to relieve companies of energy and labor costs so that craft services remain affordable for people.«

Crafts hardly benefit from higher growth

After years of economic weakness, the federal government expects significantly higher growth again this year. This is largely driven by the state spending billions on special funds on credit to modernize the infrastructure and for defense.

According to the autumn economic survey, craft businesses rate their current business situation worse than a year ago. Expectations are also clouding. According to the survey, the backlog of orders in the overall trade continues to fall significantly.

Schwannecke called on the federal government to provide competitive energy prices, less bureaucracy, lower taxes, lower additional wage costs and more planning security.

They wear hats and bell-bottoms - cell phones are taboo: For several years, traveling craftsmen lead a life full of traditions. Here two of them report on strict rules, stormy nights and a dream of China.