Of the nearly 44,000 products tracked by Matpriskollen, 29 percent experienced price increases. In January, 64 percent remained unchanged, while 7 percent saw a price decrease.
– Prices are rising across a broad range, says Ulf Mazur, CEO of Matpriskollen.
Within the grocery sector, food prices rose by 0.8 percent in January. The overall increase, encompassing all items, was 0.6 percent.
Continued rise
The most substantial price increases were seen in products such as coffee, orange juice, and cocoa. Jam and certain vegetables also saw price hikes. For instance, bell peppers became nearly 15 percent more expensive, while tomatoes rose by over 11 percent.
– These are significant increases, says Mazur.
He anticipates continued upward pressure on food prices, at least in the near term.
– In February and into March, prices will likely rise quite a bit. Arla (a dairy company) has not yet announced any price increases on dairy products, says Mazur, adding:
– And there are still many increases that haven't fully taken effect. We see that some chains adjust their prices more quickly than others, but the rest will follow suit soon.
Climate influence
Over the past twelve months, cocoa (up by more than 18 percent) and coffee (approximately 17 percent more expensive) have experienced the largest price increases. This trend is expected to persist, according to Mazur.
– For all products affected by climate change, whether due to drought or excessive rainfall, prices will continue to be impacted significantly.
This also applies to the cost of various vegetables.
– Consumers should expect this shift. There will be higher and more frequent rises than consumers have been used to, says Mazur.