Survey: Expensive Food Limits Choices

Supermarket shoppers are feeling increasingly burdened by rising food prices. During the Grüne Woche, the German Consumer Center announced that 39 % of all shoppers are restricting themselves due to high food prices. The survey was conducted by the Forsa Institute in early December 2024, with 1,001 participants aged 18 and older.

Food Prices in 2024 Rose Less Strongly

The prices of food increased particularly strongly between 2020 and 2023, by around 30 % in total. Other indicators of inflation, such as energy and raw materials, were not as heavily impacted. However, in 2024, the situation was different, as the Federal Statistical Office announced earlier this year. Food prices only rose by an average of 1.4 % last year, while the general inflation rate was 2.2 %.

The price increases were most noticeable for end consumers in items like cooking fats and oils (+10.3 %), sugar, jam, honey, and other sweets (+6.4 %), soft drinks (+6.4 %), and tobacco products (+6.0 %). On the other hand, dairy products (-2.1 %) and vegetables (-1.5 %) became slightly cheaper.

Call for Cost Monitoring

Consumer centers are now calling for better monitoring of price developments and are advocating for a body that tracks costs from farmers to supermarkets. Retailers should also be required to report the prices of their staple foods to a platform, enabling easier online price comparison.