The Young Consumer

Topics: Purchase planning and keeping a housekeeping book; obligation to purchase or uneasiness perceived at leaving a store after not buying anything; use of special offers; price as quality characteristic; self-assessment of extent to which informed about economic questions; sources of political and economic information; familiarity of consumer magazines and interest in product tests; use of product tests for consumer information; knowledge about the Stiftung Warentest {foundation for product testing} and knowledge about the significance of ´recommended price´; knowledge about the maximum permitted discount and the term ´net weight´; knowledge about best-before date as well as quality and mark of quality; assessment of the legal situation with various hypothetical purchase contracts; personal check of the sales receipt and price comparisons; conduct with relatively expensive prices in one´s regular store; knowledge about the legal consequences of late installment payments; assessment of the influence of consumers on quality and price of products; attitude to consumer advice and to consumers joining together; attitude to active participation in a consumer organization; rent payments and additional costs; completed insurance policies; type of sources of income and forms of investment; possession of stocks and shares and possession of bank account; use of the 624-DM law.

Demography: age; sex; marital status; school education; occupation; household income; size of household; head of household; housing situation; possession of durable economic goods.