Irene Kragh Eckell (52) from Porsgrunn looks down at the counter where the food with a reduced price is located. She is single and on disability benefits. When expenses for housing, transport and health are paid, she sets aside NOK 100 a day for food. – I think it’s tough. I spend a lot of energy on priorities, quite simply. It costs a lot of effort. Out of health She is already used to shopping for goods that will soon expire. Before closing time, many shops reduce the price of fresh produce and baked goods. – I always buy bread in the evening, because then it is cheapest. The concern about food prices goes beyond health. Since the summer, it feels like everything has become more expensive, says the 52-year-old. It’s getting longer between the good purchases. – Servet for 12.50. It wasn’t so crazy then. For Irene Kragh Eckell, the trip to the store is about finding items that can fit her budget. Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / news Several price jumps Last year the prices of both electricity and fuel increased. The price increase in society was 5.8 per cent. The prices of food and drink increased by 6.5 per cent. It is the biggest price jump since 1987, according to SSB. It is not expected that the prices of groceries will stop rising. According to information to news, a new price jump of up to 10 per cent is expected on 1 February. – More oatmeal and shortbread If the prices increase more now, it will affect Irene’s everyday life. She rarely buys food at full price. The payment of around NOK 20,000 a month will cover expenses for housing, electricity, fuel and medicines. Food is de-prioritised. – Then there will be more oatmeal and shortbread. Very simple and cheap food. Increased food prices The comparison of food prices and the wage trend says something about whether you get more, less or the same amount for your money. When the development of food prices is higher than the development of wages, it means that food has become more expensive. Both figures are averages for the specified period. Read more about sources and reservations here. How much food prices have increased in the past year, compared to wage development Food Dec 2021 – Dec 2022 Wage development Forecast for 2022 Announces new measures The government today announced several measures to strengthen competition in the grocery industry and gain an overview of how prices are set. The announced price jump in February comes despite the fact that commodity prices internationally have fallen for nine months in a row. The Minister of Trade and Industry said at the press conference today that the government has had a meeting with the food giants to get answers to why prices are rising so much and so quickly. – We want to encourage all players to show their social responsibility and curb inflation as much as possible, said Minister of Business Jan Christian Vestre (Ap). Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) and Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch (Sp) announce new measures for the grocery industry. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB Store manager: – Embarrassed to sit at the till At Irene Kragh Eckell’s local grocery store, it is noticeable that prices have increased. Store manager at Rema 1000 Stridsklev in Porsgrunn, Kristian Skogen, says the employees react themselves. – Sometimes it can be embarrassing to sit at the checkout when we scan the goods. Earnings for the store have decreased even though prices have increased, so our margins have not changed. Store manager at Rema 1000 Stridsklev in Porsgrunn, Kristian Skogen, says they notice that customers have become much more aware of the price of groceries. Photo: Stian Wåsjø Simonsen / news He says customers buy the cheap brands of goods more often and pick more of the goods that are discounted. He finds that people are much more aware of prices and what each item costs. Irene Kragh Eckell looks darkly at the new announced price jumps throughout the spring. She currently has enough money for food, but tells news that if prices rise another 10 per cent, it will be more difficult to make the math work out. news draws attention to the fact that Kragh Eckell is a local politician for the Progress Party in Porsgrunn. The government’s new measures Margin study: To see where the margins in the value chain end up. The government wants more transparency in price formation and a greater insight into what happens to the price of a product from the time it leaves the farmer and ends up on the shop shelf. The Norwegian Competition Authority: The government will ask the Norwegian Competition Authority to check why what Vestre refers to as “extensive” price signaling in the market is taking place. The price windows: The government will investigate how price formation in the market actually takes place. Twice a year – in February and July – the players can increase prices. The government wants to gain a greater insight into how it actually takes place and how it works. Source: Press conference with Sandra Borch and Jan Christian Vestre.
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– I always buy bread in the evening, because then it is cheapest
