Satisfying hunger is becoming more and more expensive. Food prices have been climbing for months. Bread, the farmers’ association recently painted black, could soon cost twice as much and looked towards Ukraine. The country is a major wheat exporter. But not only the grain is increasing in price. The price increases go right through the range, and there is no end in sight. Consumers have also felt this for a long time.
The inflation wave picked up speed last July, and the arrow has been pointing up ever since. Month after month, the prices continue to be adjusted. In February groceries cost an average of around five percent more than at the same time last year. And in March, the discounter Aldi pushed ahead with another price increase, and the competition followed suit.
There are many reasons for the sometimes drastic price increases. The spokesman for Aldi Nord recently spoke to Wirtschaftswoche about two events of the century, the corona pandemic and the Ukraine war, “which are having a massive impact on global supply chains”. On top of that, there are also factors such as climate-related crop failures.
Running out of flour?
According to the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) consumer center, consumers do not have to worry that bread and flour will run out. Although the Ukraine and Russia are important wheat producers, Germany is not affected because the Federal Republic does not import bread grain. However, that doesn’t change the fact that prices are also rising in Germany, “because German grain prices are based on the world market”.
Hamster purchases are not necessary. Above all, the consumer advice center warns against panic buying sunflower oil. The oil was indeed scarce recently, but there are enough alternatives to compensate for short-term supply bottlenecks. Instead of artificially inflating prices by buying hamsters, consumer advocates recommend switching to other cooking oils.
In the photo series above you can read the tips and tricks from the NRW consumer advice center on how food costs can be kept as low as possible, even in times of crisis.