The rise in prices in society is particularly driven by food and drink, which became 6.5 per cent more expensive last year. It is the biggest price jump since 1987, according to SSB. In comparison, prices generally rose by 5.8 per cent. Although food prices are also rising rapidly in neighboring countries, the government is skeptical of the players in Norway. They want to make sure that Norwegians do not pay a single kroner more than necessary. – We are concerned that food prices are rising quite considerably. Then we will have a dialogue with the players to get good answers as to why it is happening, and not least to see if there are measures that can be implemented to spare Norwegian consumers, says Minister of Industry Jan Christian Vestre to news. Waiting for a price jump of ten percent – What kind of measures might be relevant? – Now we have to see what the players themselves tell us. Over time, they have given signals in the market that prices will rise, he says. Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre has announced several measures to strengthen competition in the grocery industry. Photo: Tale Hauso / news On 1 February, a new price jump of up to 10 per cent is expected, according to news’s information. Then the result of the autumn’s negotiations between suppliers and groceries will be priced into the shop shelves. Large parts of last year’s price increase will therefore only come in February. But internationally, raw material prices for food have fallen for nine months in a row, according to the UN’s food index. Prices were lower in December than a year ago. Nibio researcher Ivar Pettersen believes that food prices will rise by five to six per cent in total throughout the spring. – I am optimistic when it comes to spring overall, but we will get a bit of a setback in February, he says to news. Head of Alo-Analyse, Ivar Pettersen, points to cheaper electricity, gas and raw materials internationally as the main reason why the price of food will calm down in the future. Photo: news These seven will tell their version On Thursday, the food industry will meet Vestre and Agriculture Minister Sandra Borch (Sp) alone for about 20 minutes each from 07.30 and throughout the morning. The actors participating in the meetings with the government are Coop, Norgesgruppen, Reitangruppen, Orkla, Nortura, NHO Mat og drikke and the Food Suppliers’ Association (DLF). – Don’t you want to risk being left with seven different explanations for why prices are rising? – Now we will see what the players tell us. We have invited them to an open and honest listening meeting, says Vestre. He also has a jab at the grocery stores: – But it is worrying that food prices are rising so much, and not least that the prices in the grocery stores are rising more than the prices from the producers, i.e. from those who make our food. I hope the players have good answers to that, says Vestre. Reminder that the government footed the bill An example is butter, which increased in price by 9.3 per cent last summer from wholesalers, according to the government. In the shops, however, the price increased by 22 per cent, according to SSB. Last summer, the government took almost the entire bill for the agricultural settlement so that people would avoid food becoming much more expensive. – We used significant budget funds to reduce the need for growth in raw material prices. The growth in commodity prices that results from an agricultural settlement will only be part of the basis for changes in consumer prices, says Borch to news.
ttn-69
Biggest price jump since 1987 – now the government wants answers – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
