More expensive cookies - but overall inflation rate is easing
Christmas baking is expensive for many Saxons this year. The prices for a number of baking ingredients are significantly higher than a year ago, the State Statistical Office announced on Wednesday. Sugar (20.3 percent), baking powder and vanilla sugar (13.3), jam (11.4) as well as eggs and flour (2.7 each) cost more in November. According to the statisticians, the prices of citrus fruits, apples and chocolates have also risen. In contrast, consumers were able to save on butter (-27.7) and quark (-2.3).
Overall, the statisticians put the annual inflation rate at 3.9 percent according to preliminary calculations for November. This means that the decline has continued. In October, it had fallen below the five percent mark for the first time in 19 months at 4.5 percent.
Those who needed to stock up on heating oil or liquid gas at the beginning of the heating season were lucky recently. According to the data, prices were well below the previous year's figures (-19.7% and -14.1% respectively) - unlike electricity and natural gas.
Despite the cost increase in various baking ingredients, some food items like butter and quark have seen a decrease in prices, providing some relief for consumers during their Christmas baking. However, custom duties on imported food items like citrus fruits, apples, and chocolates might contribute to higher prices for consumers.
Source: www.dpa.com
