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Food prices fell month-on-month in August compared to July, and this led to a decline in the Czech Republic’s year-on-year rate of price growth – albeit very small – and year-on-year inflation at 8.5 percent, 0.3 percent lower than in July.
People are already noticing that the prices of some items have dropped even while shopping. “Commercial chains are gradually coming to their senses and have so far adjusted the controversial price. This was the subject of a wide social debate last year, in which high-level politicians were also involved. Even for large groups of chains that profitably benefit from the unprecedented high concentration of the domestic retail market, the continued use of their inflated margins has become unsustainable. At the same time, last year’s tense situation, caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, provided chains and other companies and institutions in the country with a narrative through which they could justify a significant increase in their margins beyond the scope of objective cost growth. , calmed down somewhat,” he summarized. Economist Lucas Govanda in his explanation The chain’s fear of government margin controls may also have contributed.
Its leader Petr Fiala (ODS) thinks the Czech government contributed to the drop in food prices. “Because the government has systematically put pressure on food producers and sellers, the prices of these products have started to fall. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but I do not believe in such coincidences. Therefore, we will continue our activities. Food on the counters of Czech stores should be of the same quality and affordable price as abroad. ” announced the Prime Minister on social media.
Since the government started putting pressure on food producers and sellers, the prices of these commodities started to fall. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I don’t believe in such coincidences. So, we will continue our activities. Food at the counters of Czech shops should be of the same quality and price… pic.twitter.com/aD21SQ6fee
— Peter Fiala (@P_Fiala) September 11, 2023
The year-on-year price for wheat flour was actually low, for example, it cost an average of 22.21 crowns in August a year ago, and its price has already dropped to 18.58 crowns this August. Also, the price of semi-skimmed long-term milk has dropped from 17.82 crowns to 15.64 crowns (for full-fat milk, the price tag has changed only in pennies, and consumers have saved more money on butter, as it has fallen from 56 crowns last year to 39 crowns per 250g pack.
When paying for your total spending in stores, you still haven’t noticed a serious drop in prices compared to last year? That’s what you’re likely to buy – instead, many food items have gone up significantly in price over the past twelve months, and when you pay at the cash register, some items can “wipe out” the savings at the cost of other items. What foods are these? Often even those that don’t change during cooking.
Photo gallery:- About food prices
The most expensive vegetables, eggs, sugar, some dairy products and pork
Although many foods are discounted, if you do not get a significant relief for your finances in stores, you can find some of the foods you buy most often Czech Statistical Office (CZSO ) register a price increase compared to the price of a year ago. Within figures of average consumer prices, which is calculated from so-called “scanner data”, that is, data from the cash register of retail chains. The last data for this year is for August, so the “one year ago” situation is compared to last August.
On the other hand, it was enough to increase the price of a significant number of products, and fruits and many vegetables, without which it is impossible to do in the kitchen, did not escape the price increase. The price of potatoes in stores has risen from an average of 13 crowns to almost 22 crowns per kilo, a kilo of garlic is sold at an average of 168.47 crowns, over 7 crowns, and the price of sauerkraut has also increased. By almost 4 crowns from the current 53.56 crowns, and compared to last year, the difference in tomato prices has crossed 21 crowns. Last year in August, you had a kilo of tomatoes for about 45 crowns, and today you would leave the cash register with 66.35 crowns for the same amount.
It doesn’t end with vegetables. Peppers fell in price from 53.6 crowns to 69.28 crowns in a year, carrots rose by almost ten crowns, in August you can’t find them in the store for 17.7 crowns last year, but already for 27.6 crowns.
Photo gallery: – Prices at the Czech-Polish border
Compared to last year, ten kroner is added to your receipt when you buy a kilogram of celery, because it is already sold for more than 40 kroner, and for onions, you can expect about 13 kroner more for each kilogram of celery. Last year’s average rose to 30.8 crowns from 17.7 crowns.
Buying 10 kg of vegetables can cost you a hundred kroner more than last year. But that’s not the only thing that’s priced higher this year.
Last year and this year as well, the increase in sugar prices attracted a lot of attention. It was more expensive on shelves compared to last August. And significantly so. A kilo of crystal was sold for an average of more than 18 crowns last year and already sold for more than 27 crowns this August. Flour at 20.89 last August, 34 crowns without a penny this year.
Photo gallery: – Czech and German food prices
In one year, the price of bread rose by approximately 4 kroner to 45 kroner per kilo, and white bread by 9 kroner to 68 kroner. Also, children’s biscuits cannot be bought for less than 10 crowns, but can be bought for an average of 13.33 crowns.
Last year, you had a dozen eggs for 35.90, this August for 41.36, and some dairy products also “jumped”. The price of soft cheese rose by almost 8 kroner to around 91.50 per kg, traditional spreads in kilo packages were already almost 17 kroner more expensive, and the average price in August was almost 158 kroner (ie 35.90 kroner per kron. typical 250g package).
For example, chicken cutlets have become significantly cheaper compared to last August (up to 36 crowns on average), and you can pay more for meat products at the checkout. For example, it was enough to buy chicken thighs instead of the mentioned breast steaks – on the other hand, they became more expensive by more than 10 kroner per kilo, from 94.6 kroner to 104.7 kroner on average.
Photo gallery: – Before the Government meeting
From meat, the price of boneless pork leg (from 126 crowns to 132.1 crowns per kilogram), pork belly (from 129 crowns to 137.4 crowns per kilogram), pork roast (from 120.9 crowns to 137.6 grams) and total crowns per kilogram. This was not helped by the cheap pork neck, which became cosmetically cheap over the course of the year. Average 143.2 to 142.8.
Salami is also expensive. The price of ham salami was not 184.4 last year, but 197.9 crowns per kilo, and the price of Poličan was not 285.9, but 307.4 crowns. Even pork is ten crowns more expensive and is already selling for 269 crowns.
When buying a kilo of sausages you leave 18 more crowns in the cash register, which is already 196.6 crowns, and pork lard is already at a completely different price. 77.3 in August last year, 102.1 crowns in August this year, which is 25 CZK more.
Photo Gallery: – Beyond Pilsen to Nemec
If you want to offset the above-mentioned price hike with domestic wine, believe me you will go deep into your pocket, as its liter already sells for an average of 257.4 crowns. More expensive than last year.
According to some comments, people should ask traders specifically why some prices don’t fall so quickly. Štěpán Křeček, adviser to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) and chief economist at BH Securities, said that the data on inflation growth published in mid-September was due to a sharp fall in prices of agricultural producers, improving the situation. There is no longer any restriction on discounting food in energy markets, shops. “If grocers and traders do not reduce prices yet, they will abuse their position at the expense of customers,” he noted.
On a percentage basis, agricultural producer prices fell by 16.4 percent in August year-on-year. Among the crop production, the price of oilseeds decreased significantly by 34.9 percent and the price of cereals by 32.3 percent, while prices also decreased by 26.2 percent. However, vegetable prices have increased by 17.7 percent, while potato prices have risen by a dramatic 82.5 percent. In livestock production, prices decreased by 2.4 percent year-on-year. However, pig prices rose significantly by 29.6 percent and egg prices by 19.0 percent.
Author: Radek Kodas
