The prices of consumer products, affected by successive crises, have reached high levels, a return to pre-crisis prices seems hardly conceivable.
However, despite this sharp increase, consumers have noticed a slight drop in certain prices. According to the latest INSEE readings, as reported by BFMTV, this Wednesday, May 15. In April 2024, inflation was 2.2% over one year. Certain food products may have recorded significant declines:
Despite a decline in inflation, the boss of Système U, Dominique Schelcher, noted a purchasing power problem. “This tension, for months, has weighed on people’s choices, they arbitrate,” he declared on Tuesday May 14 at the microphone of BFMTV. According to him, “beyond 3 euros”, non-food products “sell less”.
Despite a certain lull in inflation, the magazine What to choose identified the prices of many products sold in supermarkets between January 2022 and June 2024. Here are the differences they observed:
New global factors could reinforce this inflation.
Maritime transport: a major cause of rising prices
Maritime transport is becoming more and more expensive, which directly affects the prices of products sold in large retailers. The average price of a container rose from $1,200 in January to more than $3,600 in April 2024, JND said. This increase in costs is mainly explained by the current conflict in the Red Sea and a strong demand for container ships and difficult weather conditions in Asia, explains Alexandre Baradez, head of market analysis at IG France, to our colleagues .
Ships attacked in the Red Sea
The conflict in the Red Sea severely disrupts maritime traffic, particularly on the Suez Canal, a crucial passage for world trade. The problems started when the Houthisa Yemeni group supported by Iran, began attacking commercial ships due to current tensions in the Middle East between the Palestinians and Israel.
A recent attack
On Wednesday evening, June 12, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking a commercial ship in the Red Sea. According to West Francethe company owning the ship allegedly ignored the Houthis’ warning targeting ships docking in Israeli ports. These various factors drive up the prices of the products we buy every day.
All three products may cost more
Supermarkets, dependent on imports, pass these increases on to consumers. Consequently, food, hygiene and maintenance products may cost morewhich risks making daily life more and more expensive for many families.
