Food prices are exploding: Where do Görlitzers save when shopping?

Food prices are exploding: Where do Görlitzers save when shopping?

Food prices in Germany are a hot topic that concerns many people. The price increases for basic foods such as bread, butter and wheat products are particularly noticeable. Marc Schmitz, a 23-year-old from Cologne, has experienced this development first hand and has observed how prices have been rising for some time. In order to counteract the wave of price increases, many discounters and supermarkets announced that they would lower their prices. For example, Aldi, which announced the “biggest price drop of the year” in March 2025 and offered more than 30 staple foods permanently cheaper. In April, the company followed up with a price reduction for almost 30 different drinks, and in May Lidl also reduced the prices for 500 items from various product groups, which in turn prompted other retailers such as Edeka, Netto, Kaufland, Rewe and Penny to adjust their prices. [Sächsische] reports that competition in the food market is becoming increasingly intense.

But what is behind these reduced prices? Consumer advocates are concerned about the transparency of price cuts. Lisa Völkel from the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations made it clear that it is often unclear which prices and products are actually affected. Experts like Dr. Stephan Rüschen, professor of food retail, points out that while these reductions sound good, their impact is often small in practice - a reduction of 500 items could only save around two percent of the average shopping basket. It remains unclear what the discounters actually mean by the term “permanent” and whether the price reductions are long-term or just short-term promotions. This raises questions that concern many consumers.

Prices and price developments at a glance

As the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center highlights, the general price level for food has risen by around 30 percent since 2021. Such dramatic changes are caused by various factors: the costs of energy, fertilizers and animal feed have risen sharply due to the ongoing global crises, while the labor shortage and rising minimum wages are putting pressure on personnel costs. In addition, climate change is causing uncertain harvest results with more frequent crop failures.

An example to illustrate this: The price of butter has fluctuated significantly since the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. After a sharp increase, there was temporary relief in the summer of 2023, but prices climbed back to peak levels just before Christmas 2024. Hidden price increases, such as reduced filling quantities or changed recipes, make it difficult for many consumers to keep track of real price increases. This means that people are increasingly relying on price comparisons and cheaper alternatives in order to continue to ensure a healthy diet without breaking the bank. [Consumer Center] emphasizes that a healthy, sustainable and varied diet should not depend on your wallet.

Price development in detail

The price analysis in Görlitz shows some positive developments, for example for wholemeal toast, whose price was reduced from 99 cents to 79 cents, and preserving sugar, which fell from 3.52 euros to 2.37 euros. This corresponds to a reduction of 20 percent and 33 percent respectively. On the other hand, we are also observing some shocking price increases: Kiwis rose in price by 8 percent, while seedless grapes rose in price by as much as 72 percent. In addition, the price of branded butter rose from 1.69 euros to 3.98 euros, which corresponds to an increase of 135 percent. However, an unchanged range of export beer remains stable at a price of 8.49 euros, a small relief in an otherwise very volatile market.

The non-transparent pricing raises questions. As the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations emphasizes, it could be that food companies are benefiting from the current situation and increasing sales at the expense of consumers. This is often hidden by deceptive packaging and reduced contents. As a result, consumers' demands for more transparency and clearer labeling are becoming ever louder. Ultimately, the hope remains that the federal government will take measures to combat these high food prices in order to make everyday life easier for consumers. [Vzbv] reports that it is imperative to address these challenges before consumers come under even greater pressure.