Cost of living again ranked top worry among Germans in annual survey

Rising living costs remain Germans' biggest concern, according to an annual survey released on Thursday, with financial worries again dominating the ranking in Europe's largest economy.

Some 59% of respondents said they were highly concerned that the cost of groceries, rent and other everyday expenses could rise.

The issue topped the annual "The Worries of the Germans" survey for the 16th time in the 35 editions conducted since the study began in 1992.

Concerns about tax increases and cuts to social benefits ranked second, followed by fears that the state could be overwhelmed by refugees.

Worries about a deterioration in Germany's economic situation and increasingly unaffordable housing completed the top five.

The representative survey is commissioned by insurer R+V. Around 2,400 people aged 14 and over were questioned between May and July.

Participants rated a range of issues individually on a scale from 1, indicating no fear, to 7, indicating very great fear. The results were then used to determine the ranking.