Price increases in supermarkets: consumer advocates call for government summit

Price increases in supermarkets: consumer advocates call for government summit

Consumer advocates are calling for measures to combat rising food prices

According to a report by the FAZ Consumer advocates are sounding the alarm about rising food prices. The head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (VZBV), Ramona Pop, is calling for a government summit on food prices because consumers feel let down by the constant price increases in supermarkets. The Federal Statistical Office confirms that food prices increased by 7.5 percent in September 2023 compared to the same month last year.

Rising food prices have an impact on consumers. According to the VZBV consumer report, 44 percent of citizens are saving when buying food due to the price increase. This “alarm signal” makes it clear that a balanced diet should not depend on your wallet. The price increases for sugar, honey and other confectionery as well as for bread and grain products in particular are higher than overall inflation.

In order to relieve the burden on consumers, especially low-income earners, the VZBV proposes to introduce an annual one-off payment similar to the flat rate energy price. This could be realized through the mechanism of climate money. However, the payment of climate money is not technically possible until 2025. Furthermore, the VZBV calls for more transparency in pricing and margins along the entire value chain by setting up a price observatory. The market structures and competitive conditions that affect food prices should be investigated by the Federal Cartel Office.

Another demand concerns measures against deceptive packaging. Manufacturers should be required to indicate changes in the weight of a product on the front of the packaging. The CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag submitted a corresponding application, which was, however, rejected by the traffic light factions.

On an abolition of VAT for fruit, Gem