Rolls or whole grain bread are part of the menu for many people. But the costs for this are increasing at an above-average rate. According to the Federal Statistical Office, bread became a good third more expensive between 2019 and 2023.
Anyone who buys rolls or bread pays 34.4 percent more for it today than in 2019, according to figures from the Federal Statistical Office. “Whether for breakfast, on the go or as a classic evening meal – bread is a staple food for many people in this country,” summarized the statisticians. “However, consumers have recently had to dig deeper into their pockets for this.”
By more than a third, bread prices rose at a similar rate to food prices in general. However, compared to overall inflation, the price increase is above average. During the same period, consumer prices rose by a total of 17.3 percent.
The price increase has recently weakened: in March 2024 they cost 2.9 percent more than in the same month of the previous year. Overall, consumer prices rose by 2.2 percent in the same period.
Higher costs and fewer staff
The Federal Statistical Office cites the increased costs for energy and raw materials as the reasons for the price increase. But rising personnel costs could also play a role.
Skilled personnel are scarce. Fewer and fewer people are starting training in the bakery trade. In 2022, only around 1,640 training contracts were concluded. This means that the number of new contracts has halved in the last ten years. In other training occupations, the decline was significantly smaller at 18.9 percent.