For several months, food prices in the Netherlands have been rising faster than those in other European countries. A variety of factors are contributing to this, but a major consequence is that discounters are gaining market share.
Not a new phenomenon
In September, food prices in the Netherlands rose by 3.7 %: this rate is significantly higher than the European average of 3 %. In neighbouring Belgium and Germany, food inflation was lower at 3.2 % and 2.9 % respectively. Moreover, this is not a new phenomenon: food prices in the Netherlands have been rising faster than in other Western European countries for months, even though food inflation is falling month by month, the FD writes.
