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Food in Sweden third most expensive in EU

Published: 11 Dec 12 11:42 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44994/20121211/

A review of European statistics shows Swedes pay among the highest food prices, clocking in at 20 percent more expensive than the EU average and only topped by prices in neighbouring Norway and Denmark.

Bulgaria has the least expensive food, according to statistics from Eurostat and Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån, SCB).

"It means that a grocery bag costing 100 kronor ($15) at the EU average will cost a Swedish consumer 120 kronor," Statistics Sweden said in a statement.

Fruit, vegetables and potatoes are particularly expensive, with almost the same price tag as in Norway.

Yet Swedes pay less for fish, milk, cheese and eggs than the EU average.

Norway has the steepest prices in all but fish, and alcohol is particularly expensive at 166 percent more than the EU average. Sweden meanwhile has a 57 percent higher alcohol price than the EU, with alcohol taxes playing no small role in the figures.

Sweden's Baltic neighbours - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - still have relatively inexpensive food, as does the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Romania and Poland join Bulgaria at the bottom of the price league, with costs at about 30 percent less than the EU average.

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12:56 December 11, 2012 by EtoileBrilliant
First off, how long has Norway been part of the EU?

Second, it's not clear whether the average shopping basket contains alcohol.

Third, in the UK most food is zero rated.

....but nothing in this article talks about the terrible quality of Swedish food regardless of price.
14:43 December 11, 2012 by skogsbo
poor climate to produce your own, furthest from the Med and it's poly tunnels, not rocket science is it.

Why not look at what little farmers receive and see who has the lions share? Supermarkets?
15:53 December 11, 2012 by Enzo Ferrari
The articles says "alcohol taxes playing no small role in the figures" so the average shopping basket in this survey did contain alcohol.
17:41 December 11, 2012 by smilingjack
yet alcohol is the same price here as in australia. actually our wine here is cheaper than at home. ditto the bulk of wine here. our electricty is over 10x more than what sweden pays and we are looking at double digit % increases year in year out. same for water and gas. our speeding and parking fines are beyond belief and a fast train, cheap airfares or a public transport system anywhere near what sweden has are pipe dreams. you want to feel pain. come to australia.

if your lucky like me and live in a food bowl with a mediterranean climate you have access to cheapish fresh chemical free meat, fruit and vegs. most of australia doesnt. dont whine - you have it good here. well in Stockholm anyway.
19:50 December 11, 2012 by Swedish Meatbulls
And does anyone think that Swedes will be up in arms? NO never known a nation that excepts everything decided for them. :-/
02:56 December 12, 2012 by Eric1
With the logic of socialist, the answer to the problem of high food prices, more taxes.
08:57 December 12, 2012 by smilingjack
eric 1.

have a look at australia again.

we have the highest alcohol costs in the world. including ridiculous costs for drinking at a venue. so people tend to drink at home. I know I do. our government is now looking at inceasing tax on that. so as I said previously. stop whinibg swedes. you have it good compared to australians who are raped at every turn by our various levels of government. everything is going up 10% a year.

water, gas, food, electricity. all things car related at about 15% - 25%. registration, speeding and parking fines. we have the highest costs by a long margin for parking at airports. ad to that we are sitting on the mother of all property bubbles.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1177727/poll-violence-tax-push-for-booze-barns/?cs=303
20:10 December 12, 2012 by ciaron9000
Compare the quality of the food,food in Sweden like meat and dairy and fresh food in general is really appalling and yet it's so expensive,can somebody please explain?,read once that 65% of all food in most Swedish supermarkets is supplied from only 4 different suppliers.
17:30 December 16, 2012 by True & Evil
So, Swedish people will have to get accustomed to bloodsucking. Sad but True.
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