• Romania has the lowest bread prices in the European Union, but also records the highest bread consumption among EU countries • The average monthly bread consumption was 7,2 kg, in the first quarter
Romania has the lowest bread prices in the European Union, being almost half of the EU average, according to Eurostat. At the same time, although bread consumption in 2021 was 7,2 kg, Romania also records the highest bread consumption among EU countries.
According to 2019 data published this week by Eurostat, quoted by Agerpress, the price of bread and cereals was highest in Denmark, 53% above the EU level, followed by Austria, 35% above the EU level, Luxembourg, Sweden and Finland, all 27% above the EU level. Conversely, the lowest bread and cereal prices in 2019 were recorded in Romania, 44% below the EU level, followed by Bulgaria, 33% below the EU level, and Poland, 30% below the EU level.
Bread prices in Romania are also lower than in the Balkan countries
Eurostat data also show that bread prices in Romania are also lower than in other Balkan states that are not members of the European Union, such as North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Practically, Romania has the lowest bread prices of all the 37 countries analyzed by Eurostat, with the exception of Turkey (49% below the EU level). In 2020, the price of bread and cereals in the European Union was about two and a half times higher in the most expensive member state than in the cheapest.
The highest individual consumption of bread in the European Union
On the other hand, Romania has the highest individual consumption of bread in the European Union. Although consumption has decreased marginally in the last five years, 96 kilograms of bread and bakery products are consumed annually in Romania per capita, which means approximately 260 grams per day, per person. In second place in terms of consumption is Germany with 72 kilograms per year per capita, followed by France and Italy with 69 kilograms each.
Bread consumption in 2021, first quarter
In the first quarter of this year, the average monthly consumption of bread and bakery products in Romania was 7,2 kg, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Although it decreased by 10% compared to the average monthly consumption recorded last year, we still remain the country with the highest consumption of bread per capita among European countries.
See HERE the consumption of bread between 2012 and 2018 in the article The bread market between tradition and innovation
Yes, it is true that it is the lowest price in the EU, and because of this, the wages of the workers are also low. And not only that, because of the low price, it is also a huge waste. I think that a 300 g sandwich should be at least 2,50 - 3,00 lei, and then the workers will have decent wages as much as it will be stopped and wasted!