European grocery prices remain nearly 30% above pre-pandemic levels despite falling inflation
By
Una Hajdari
14h ago· 6 min readenInsight
75/100
Toasty
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Right out the toaster. Reliable, with some real depth.
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Summary
Despite inflation being under control, European grocery prices remain nearly a third higher than pre-pandemic levels. Lower inflation doesn't mean lower prices — it only means prices are rising more slowly. The structural damage from the worst food price shock in a generation is baked into the system, and prices are unlikely to come down anytime soon. The article explains the structural reasons behind persistently high grocery bills.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledLower inflation does not automatically translate into lower grocery prices.
Low inflation simply means that prices are rising more slowly than before, while the damage from the most brutal food price shock in a generation is baked in.
The price level never came down.
Food inflation has fallen sharply from its 2023 peak — but European grocery prices are nearly a third higher than before the pandemic, and the reasons they stay high are structural.
