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Your Say: Has the euro put up prices?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Protests are being held in Greece as consumers blame the euro for increased prices. (Full story) It follows similar demonstrations earlier this year in Italy.

CNN's Richard Quest asked viewers if they blamed the single currency for rising prices. Have your say by sending an e-mail to quest@cnn.com.

The prices here in the Netherlands have dramatically increased in every aspect of life here, in most cases by up to 50%.Heck even the prostitutes have doubled their prices. The only prices that have stayed the same is our paychecks. James Kelley, The Netherlands

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Don't worry my fellow Europeans! When we travelled this summer in central Europe and Italy we found your increased prices very reasonable compared to ours. Unfortunately we're not lucky enough to have even them here in Finland. Aleksis Pillai, Helsinki

In Italy, the prices have skyrocketed since the introduction of the Euro. In some cases the prices have even doubled. Vendors have literally removed a few 00s from the old lire price. Why is no one complaining to the government about this? And how can the already low Italian wages fare under such price hikes? Maria, Rome

Here in Vienna, the Euro has definitely brought higher prices and a general higher cost of living without a corresponding increase in wages. With the removal of the dual price display requirements in Schillings and Euro in March, it seems retailers took advantage and were able to hide increases in their prices because people were not used to the Euro. Ian Ballantyne, Vienna

In Germany, where the exchange was roughly 2:1, grocers, bars, restaurants, and ice-cream vendors -- the worst -- haven't just rounded up. They've simply replaced the DM symbol with the euro, doubling their prices! Exception: IKEA, who rounded down! Yes, down. Karin Edwards, Germany

Worst hikes have been in the entertainment industry -- bars, cafes, restaurants, etc. where hikes up to 20% or more are no exception. Victor Dago, Amsterdam

As a Belgian living and working in Athens since August last year, I have to admit that Greek shops and market sellers have "played very liberally" with the prices, although it is forbidden by the European Union/Commission. Add to that the policy of Greek shopowners and supermarkets to always give not enough change back and you understand why people get angry. Let's be honest, over 1 Euro for 1

liter of milk is outrageous. Karel Van Isacker, Athens

I live in Frankfurt and I can assure you the prices -- in particular in gastronomy -- hare risen quite considerably. One restaurant just changed the DM symbol for the Euro, rounding up prices to 50 cents or 1 Euro. Norman Johnson, Frankfurt

I am English and have been resident in Spain for more than 10 years. The impact of the euro has been alarming, prices have risen 10 percent or more across the board. Barrie Javea, Spain

I live in the 11th arrondisment in Paris, not the center, or even an area with shops or, etc. The cafe on my corner is now charging 4.00 euros for Coke, Perrier, etc. It's shameful! I notice the worst "exchange" rates most often in cafes and in general throughout the service industry ( if you can call it that here in France!) Theodore Robinson, Paris

Yes, the prices are higher! But worse than that is to realize the blatant difference in cost of living across Europe. The Euro made a lot of things crystal clear for everyone. Paulo Lourenço Lisbon

Having arrived back in South Africa after five months working in Europe, I found the convenience and ease of travelling between countries with a single currency far outweighs the few unscrupulous shops/restaurants who round up. To forgo the time wasting hassles of queuing to exchange currencies and pay high commissions is a welcome relief. Howard Pye, Johannesburg

As an American who moved to Germany a couple of years ago, prices have gone up with the Euro. It seems that food, beer--all the consumables -- have increased significantly. Salaries have not increased with the euro. Trish Toomey, Germany

My wife traveled to Germany a lot in the past years and makes comments that things have almost doubled since the Euro replaced the old German currency. Who is getting the extra money? Are the retailers just being lazy and pricing an item one for one ( 10 D-marks to 10 Euros ) or are they responding to suppliers that are just changing the supplied goods one to one? Chris Hodge, USA

The euro has only replaced the Deutsch mark in name. I now make half as much as I did a year ago, but spend twice as much. A Pest on all their houses! Anonymous, Germany



 
 
 
 


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