In June 2022, Dutch consumers paid on average over 11 percent more for food products than one year previously. The increase in food prices was higher than the general increase in prices of goods and services (8.6 percent). This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) based on a further analysis of the consumer price index (CPI).
It is rare for food prices to rise so sharply. The last time prices rose by more than 10 percent on average over a whole year was in 1976. In 2001, the price increase was also high, but slightly lower than in June 2022. None of the food categories fell in price in June 2022.
Price rise in the Netherlands close to EU average
The rise in food prices across the European Union as of June 2022 is not known yet. In May 2022, the increase in the Netherlands was around the EU average. Prices rose slightly less in Belgium than in the Netherlands; in Germany, prices rose somewhat more sharply. In the Eastern European countries in particular, the food price increase was higher than in the Netherlands.
Dutch food price level lower than in the EU
In 2021, the level of food prices in the Netherlands was slightly below that in the European Union. In both Belgium and Germany, the average price level of food was higher than in the Netherlands. In many Eastern European countries, food is cheaper than in the Netherlands. The general price level of all consumer goods and services in the Netherlands is higher than the European average.
Most food expenditure goes to meat and fish
An average consumer spends around 11 percent of his expenditure on food. In 2021, this amounted to almost 45 billion euros. A quarter of this amount was spent on meat and fish. On average, around 23 percent of total food expenditure went to fruit and vegetables. An average consumer spends 21 percent on bread and cereal products. Dairy products account for 14 percent of the total food expenditure.
Source: cbs.nl