A third more expensive
Bread prices are rising above average
April 30, 2024, 12:32 p.m
Consumers today have to dig much deeper into their pockets than in 2019. Bread and rolls are particularly more expensive. At least their above-average price jumps seem to have stopped.
Bread and rolls have become more expensive than average in Germany in recent years. The prices for baked goods rose by a good third (34.4 percent) from 2019 to 2023, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on the occasion of “German Bread Day” on May 5th.
According to the authority, overall consumer prices increased by 17.3 percent during the period. The Federal Office explained that consumers had to dig so deeply into their pockets, especially for bread and rolls, due to, among other things, increased costs for energy and raw materials. But rising personnel costs could also have been a reason, according to statisticians.
The good news from a consumer perspective: Recently, the price increase for bread and rolls has slowed significantly. In March 2024, baked goods cost 2.9 percent more than a year earlier, while overall consumer prices rose by 2.2 percent during the period. In April, consumer prices were also 2.2 percent higher than in the same month last year. Consumers paid 0.5 percent more for food in April than a year earlier.
On average for the year, leading economic research institutes expect inflation to weaken significantly to 2.3 percent after 5.9 percent last year. However, getting there could be more difficult than hoped. According to the Munich IFO Institute, the current pricing plans of companies in this country indicate a pause in the decline in inflation. It is likely to become more expensive for customers, especially in the catering industry, when buying toys and drugstore items.