Europe's energy crunch is hitting home 🏠 – literally. A family-run butcher shop in Germany's Saarland region is fighting to survive amid soaring gas and electricity prices, as fallout from the Ukraine conflict reshapes the EU's energy landscape. ⚡️
Since Germany began reducing reliance on Russian energy, non-household gas prices have spiked 39% 💸, while electricity costs rose 19%, per Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. For small businesses like Thomas Petermann’s butcher shop – still recovering from COVID-19 losses – it’s a perfect storm.
\"Will my son inherit this business? Right now, it’s uncertain,\" Petermann told local media, echoing concerns across German towns. With winter approaching ❄️, many SMEs face tough choices: absorb crippling costs or risk losing customers through price hikes.
The crisis underscores a harsh truth: Global conflicts have local teeth. As politicians debate energy policies, families like the Petermanns count the cost – one euro at a time. 💔
