Emanuel Boeminghaus wrote that Germany's gastronomy is in crisis despite a reduction in value-added tax from 19 to 7 percent. The relief costs the state about 3.5 billion euros annually; at the same time, real restaurant sales in August 2026 fell by 5.4 percent compared to the previous year. Boeminghaus cited high costs of living, consumer restraint, and fears for the future as burdens. Since 2022, a persistent decline has been evident, he wrote. Many restaurateurs closed before bankruptcy threatened, and the tax cut was often not passed on to guests through lower prices. Referring to WELT chief economist Dorothea Siems, Boeminghaus wrote that the state's special treatment does not solve the structural problems of the industry. Additionally, more and more traditional establishments are disappearing from towns and villages. https://t.co/yiEL3PZA21 #Gaststättensterben #Gastronomie #Wirtschaftskrise (translated)
