German Consumption Inequality. An evaluation with a focus on the financial crisis.

How did the financial crisis impact on German demand? Are there significant differences in consumption behaviour depending on income? We analyse consumption data from 2005 to 2012/13 and find some indication for divergence of different income categories' consumption after 2009 and for a higher real interest rate sensitivity of higher income earners' consumption. Like in studies of income and wealth inequality, we also see a slight upward trend in consumption inequality that might have briefly staggered when the financial crisis hit.