News consumer prices
Food prices rose less sharply in 2020 than in 2019
The supermarket price for foodstuffs rose last year, but less sharply than in the previous year. This is shown by new data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). In 2020, we spent a total of 2% more on food in supermarkets.
Foods have become 2020% more expensive in supermarkets on average over the year 2. This means that the price of food has risen less quickly than in 2019, when this price increase was 4,3%. Raising the VAT rate from 6% to 9% was the basis for this at the time. Last year, tobacco in particular was more expensive: the price of rolling tobacco rose by 19,3% and the price of cigarettes rose by 10,4%. The prices of those 2 products rose mainly as a result of excise tax increases.
On average, consumer prices for all sectors combined were 1,3% higher than in 2019. The year before, the total increase was 2,6%. Despite a fall in inflation, the increase in the Netherlands in the past year was again one of the highest in the European Union. If we look at all goods and services, the increase in the Netherlands was 1,1%. The entire eurozone will reach a percentage of 0,3% in 2020.
Energy and fuel stand out
Energy and fuel prices also stand out. They have both fallen. The price for electricity fell by 39,6% in the past year, mainly as a result of an increase in the tax credit. Gas was 2,6% more expensive last year. The CBS also reports that the price for petrol was 5,2% lower and that diesel was 8,8% cheaper.
Incidentally, no drop in prices is expected for the time being. earlier said the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations already expects that prices will continue to rise for the coming year.
Kimberly Baker
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