Six months after the introduction of euro notes and coins, some EU citizens are still having difficulties in understanding prices and values in the new currency.
A new Eurobarometer poll published by the European Commission shows that European citizens are generally satisfied with the euro changeover. However, difficulties still remain in understanding prices and values in the new currency. EU citizens also believe that the introduction of the euro has been used to disguise price rises.
Statistics show that there have been price rises in some areas, such as restaurants, food, hairdressers and taxis in the last three months.
However, the Commission says it is not possible to say whether these are due to the euro or other factors.
Price understanding is analysed in the survey in different ways; the capacity to remember prices (41.2 per cent consider this difficult), to compare prices (38.7 per cent consider this difficult) and to recognise the price level for everyday goods (milk, petrol, eggs, a CD, a take-away pizza).
Difficulties in understanding prices may arise from the fact that 44 per cent look at prices only in national currency or sometimes also in euros. Some 70 per cent continue to think always or often in their old national currency and 68 per cent convert euro prices always or often into old national currency prices.
Therefore, not surprisingly, most consumers consider that dual pricing remains necessary. Some 72 per cent of those surveyed consider that, for themselves, dual pricing is essential or fairly useful.
The difficulties in understanding prices and values may partly explain the strong belief that prices have increased following the introduction of the euro.
Just over 68 per cent are convinced that prices were rounded up in all areas and 15 per cent believe prices have been rounded up in certain areas. Only 8 per cent of respondents feel that prices did not go up or were rounded down.
As observed in previous polls, consumers express a high degree of satisfaction with the changeover to the euro.
Almost 79 per cent feel that for consumers in general it took place without any difficulty or only with some temporary difficulties.
When asked how they themselves found the changeover, the satisfaction rate rises to 84 per cent.
Overall, 60 per cent are pleased that the euro has become their own currency.
Handling the new notes and coins, as well as their use as a means of payment, does not seem to pose major problems, though more people reported having difficulties using the coins (29 per cent) than the notes (8 per cent.
