The biggest price increases among the products analyzed by ZF were recorded by eggs (by almost 24%), milk (19.65%), flour (almost 15%) and sugar (over 10%). An egg tray now costs RON6 (EUR1.39), from just RON5 (EUR1.16) in February.
“Egg prices have now returned to early 2010 levels. Back then an egg was sold ex-works for RON0.32-0.34, and its cost was RON0.28-0.3. Then it fell to RON0.12, i.e. one third of the original value and we had to sell at less than the cost. Consumers have to be more generous with producers in order to be able to eat in the longer term,” says Grigore Horoi, president of Agricola Bacau, one of the largest producers of poultry in Romania, who also has an egg production division.
The prices of 12 of the 15 products analyzed rose between February and December 2011. The only products whose prices fell were potatoes (-50.9%), apples (-7.7%), bananas (-28%) and grilled chicken (-3.85%). The potato price decline can be explained by the fact that this year’s harvest has been better than the 2010 one. The same is true of apples, which are mostly consumed from the domestic output.
ZF specifies that the Food Index it has been calculating since December 2008 is basic and purely journalistic, based on shelf prices in stores Real Afi Cotroceni and Carrefour Orhideea in Bucharest, with the end price calculated as an average of the two store chains. Products targeted by promotions are not analyzed on a separate basis, either.
The 15 products have been chosen because they are most often to be found in Romanians’ shopping basket. In the calculation of this index, ZF has chosen one brand for each category of products. The brand is well-positioned in terms of market share, and produced by one of the top five players of that category. (EUR1=RON4.3045)
(English version by Daniela Stoican)