The prices for meat, fruit and bread have only been going in one direction for months: keep going up!
Now the next price hammer is announced – namely for milk and cheese. In BILD, Eckhard Heuser, Managing Director of the Dairy Industry Association, warns of price increases of an average of 25 percent. They are likely to come into force “in the period from May to July”.
This means that a liter of milk could soon hardly be available in the supermarket for less than one euro. Because: At the discounter, the cheapest bag of milk currently costs 80 cents. With a 25 percent surcharge, there would be a one in front of the decimal point!
Heuser warns that the surcharge for fatty products (e.g. cheese) will STILL be higher than 25 percent. Currently, a 250 gram pack of cheese at the discounter costs at least 1.49 euros. With a price increase of 30 percent, the price would rise to 1.94 euros.
The packet of butter (250 grams) has already become significantly more expensive, currently costs at least 2.09 euros. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the price has risen by 17.6 percent over the past twelve months.
After all, according to the Dairy Industry Association, after the price increases in the summer, the peak has probably been reached.
Energy prices main drivers of the increase
The dairy industry association told BILD that the main reason for the price increase was the enormous increase in energy prices. Farmers are also struggling with the high costs of fertilizer and feed, partly as a result of the war in Ukraine.
Another price driver for farmers and dairies: the minimum wage (currently 9.82 euros). This will be raised to 12 euros from October 1st – and could further heat up the price spiral in supermarkets.