With only seven months to the introduction of euro notes and coins, most Germans remain to be convinced of the benefits, according to a poll for Financial Times Deutschland.

More than half the population of Germany, the largest economy in euro-zone, remains wary, fearing the introduction of euros will lead to price rises as retailers use the opportunity to round up prices upon conversion.

Only 29 per cent of those polled last month were enthusiastic about the introduction of euro cash, while 51 per cent were not keen on it and 61 per cent said they expected businesses to increase prices when the changeover takes place - 8 percentage points more than in April.

Four in five welcomed the benefits the single currency will bring when travelling within the euro-zone, but only a minority expected benefits either for the EU or German economy.

"I fear that shops will simply round up rather than down," said Elke Enders, 59, a teacher from Frankfurt. "It may not be much of an increase for each price, but altogether, I think it could add up to a surprising amount. I don't oppose the euro, but I don't like the whole confusion of the conversion, and think there is plenty of room for us ordinary consumers to be cheated in a small way."

For most Germans, the fear of inflation - and the corresponding love for the strong and stable Deutschmark they have enjoyed for years - remains deep-seated.

The country has gone through several currency reforms and a period of hyperinflation within living memory, and many citizens would rather keep the reliable D-Mark, which symbolises the country's postwar success.

Although few Germans are old enough to have lived through the hyperinflation of the 1920s that helped sweep the Nazi regime to power, stories of loaves of bread costing armfuls of money have entered folklore. Many, however, remember the abolition of the Reichsmark in the painful period immediately after the war.

The weakness of the euro on the international currency markets also worries many Germans who are used to their strong D-Mark. The euro has lost more than 25 per cent of its value against the dollar since its introduction, and has recently again neared its lowest point of $0.823 amid concerns about slowing euro-zone growth and persistent inflation.

The association of German banks rejects concerns that introducing euro cash will lead to price increases. "Overall, the changeover will . . . have no discernible price impact," it said last week.