”In September, ground beef and mixed ground meat increased by a whole +1.8 percent in one month”, says Ulf Mazur, CEO of Matpriskollen in a written comment to TT.
”Price increases for beef and ground meat are what affect the wallet the most right now”, he adds.
Effect of drought
And on average, the price increases for ground meat are 13 percent compared to September last year, while the prices of ground beef have been raised by 16 percent.
The background to the price increases is the reduced production of beef, among other things due to deteriorated profitability and difficulties in financing investments for meat farmers, according to Mazur. The effects of the drought and the emergency slaughter in 2018 are also cited as a reason.
”We consumers will have to get used to higher prices if we are to have anyone who wants to work to ensure the supply of Swedish meat in both good times and in crisis preparedness”, he says.
Generally, Matpriskollen describes the price increases for food as ”relatively low” in September, a trend that has continued since the spring.
In addition to the prices of ground meat and beef, the prices of berries, coffee, and ice cream were raised in September. And in a yearly rate, the prices of coffee and berries have now increased by 22 and 14 percent, respectively.
More expensive coffee capsules
In September, among other things, price increases for instant coffee and coffee capsules stand out with increases of 4 and 5 percent, respectively.
The price increases are largely balanced by price reductions for fresh vegetables, fruit, fresh cheese, pork, and some bread, according to Matpriskollen.
The prices of satsumas, clementines, pears, and apples were reduced by at least 5 percent, according to the measurements. And cucumbers, bell peppers, pumpkins, cauliflower, and root vegetables also became cheaper.
Matpriskollen investigates what the regular price of over 45,000 food items was at the food retailers on the last day of the month and compares with historical measurements of the same kind.
