Daily groceries have become considerably more expensive. With peaks of as much as 9 percent compared to a year earlier, according to research institute GfK. More and more people are knocking on the door of the food bank for help.
“It is actually impossible”, says a mother of three children standing in line in front of the food bank in Utrecht. “I am afraid that I will soon no longer be able to afford groceries in the supermarket. Prices are going up more and more and I am afraid that it will go up even more.”
Extraordinary price increases
The GfK calculated that the average price increase is 3 percent compared to the same period in 2020. That is higher than the inflation, which is just below 2 percent. But some groceries have become much more expensive than that. Animal nutrition, meat products and salads have increased by about 9 percent. Fresh meat, poultry and fish became 7 percent more expensive, while beer, flowers and plants had to be paid 6 percent more.
“These kinds of increases are extraordinary,” says Norman Buysse, researcher at GfK. According to him there are several explanations for this. “It may be partly because of the increased raw material prices and at the same time people have also started to indulge themselves more in the corona period.” Conversely, some products have fallen in price, such as deodorant and toothpaste. Buysse explains this by working from home, which means that those articles are used less. “Personal care has had a tough time.”
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More people to the food bank
In the past 5 years, the number of people using the food bank nationwide has increased. After a slight decrease in 2017, the number of people dependent on aid has risen from around 130,000 to 160,000 last year. There are no current figures for this year.
They also noticed the effect of price increases in the past, says Pien de Ruig of Food Banks Netherlands. “When the VAT on vegetables and energy prices went up at the beginning of 2019, we got more customers, because people just couldn’t make it anymore. Those were people who didn’t come to us before. We don’t have any concrete data about that now, but I wouldn’t be surprised. if that is the case now. “
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More families in trouble
“It is reprehensible that prices are rising”, responds Jan Zwarts, coordinator of the food bank in Utrecht. “We help, but not for the entire week. Our customers also have to do some of their shopping in the supermarket.
He is concerned that registrations with the food bank could also increase. “There is a good chance that more families will get into trouble and call on us.”
Groceries are becoming even more expensive
Zwarts especially wants everyone to keep coming who needs help. Nevertheless, the question is whether a larger influx will ultimately not have consequences. Zwarts: “We can handle that in Utrecht, but the future will have to tell whether we can still offer the right amount. We would like to help, but the resources must also be available.”
In the meantime, GfK researcher Buysse has a less cheerful message. He thinks groceries will become even more expensive. “The increases will continue, but not as exceptional as 6 to 9 percent.”
