ATTENTION AT ALNABRU (VG) Knut Hemstad (68) enjoyed turkey fillets from Spain at the weekend. It cost NOK 28.
– Food prices cannot be compared to here. They have taken away VAT on bread and necessary foodstuffs such as milk, says a tanned Hemstad to VG, who meets him at the grocery store Obs at Alnabru in Oslo.
The pensioner has just returned home from Spain. There they have removed the VAT on necessary goods such as bread and milk, eggs, cheese, fruit and vegetables.
In comparison, frozen turkey breast costs DKK 200 at Oda.
The Spanish authorities did this before Christmas, as a measure against rising prices in the country. Before, the VAT on these goods was 4 percent.
On cooking oil and pasta, they reduced the VAT from 10 to 5 percent. The crisis package will last until the summer.
Pensioner Hemstad believes that what the Spanish authorities have done is good. He doesn’t have much left over for the Norwegian prices:
– They are absolutely terrible, I just have to say that. Now we know about the prices in Spain and get a shock every time we get home.
In February, it is expected that food prices will increase. Twice a year – on 1 February and 1 July – prices are adjusted from the suppliers to the grocery chains. These are also called “price windows”.
– What do you think about food becoming even more expensive on 1 February?
– I don’t understand that it should go up as much as it has. We need to know what the farmer gets paid, and what the supplier gets paid. If dairy products go up 5 percent from the farmer, should not add more.
