Europe’s soaring food costs

The cost of food in Europe has continued to soar, rising 16.6 percent in the year to April – despite falling energy prices – which is far more than the headline inflation rate of 8.1 percent


Surge in cost of staples (April, year-on-year inflation)

UP 54.9%
Sugar 

UP
16.4%
Bread

UP 25.3%
Cheese

UP 22.7%
Eggs

UP 25.0%
Fresh whole milk

UP 14.9%
Oils and fats 


Food inflation (selected countries)	0.0% All food

Hungary		38.5%    
Bread 		52.9%
Cheese 		51.4%

Lithuania 	21.1% 
Sugar		53.5%
Eggs 		32.9%

Latvia 		20.1%  
Sugar 		63.9% 
Bread 		38.8% 

Czech Rep. 	18.0%
Sugar		60.9% 
Eggs		41.1%

Netherlands	16.0%
Sugar 		42.3%    
Cheese 		25.0%

Ireland 	13.0%
Sugar		38.8%
Milk		24.0% 

Italy		12.2%  
Sugar		54.1%
Oils and fats	19.6%

Estonia		23.8%
Sugar 		86.1%   
Bread 		35.6%

Poland 		20.6%
Sugar		67.1% 
Milk 		33.0%

Sweden 		18.3%   
Sugar		49.9%
Eggs 		31.1% 

Germany 	18.0% 
Sugar 		71.7%
Cheese 		39.6%

Britain		15.7%   
Oils and fats 	49.0% 
Sugar 		42.0% 

Spain 		12.8% 
Sugar		49.6%
Milk 		27.7% 

Norway 		10.7% 
Sugar 		17.1%
Bread		15.6%
  

Sources: Eurostat food price monitoring tool, Office of National Statistics
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