Consumentenprijzen variëren sterk tussen EU-lidstaten (en)

In 2011, price levels for consumer goods and services1 differed widely across Member States. Denmark (142% of the EU27 average) had the highest price level, followed by Sweden (128%), Finland (125%) and Luxembourg (122%). Price levels of 10% to 20% above the EU27 average were found in Ireland (117%), Belgium (112%) and France (111%), while the Netherlands (108%), Austria (107%), Germany and Italy (both 103%) and the United Kingdom (102%) had levels up to 10% above the average.

Spain (97% of the EU27 average) and Greece (95%) were just below the average, while Cyprus (89%), Portugal (87%) and Slovenia (84%) were between 10% and 20% below. Price levels between 20% and 30% below the average were observed in Estonia (79%), Malta (78%), the Czech Republic (77%), Latvia (74%) and Slovakia (72%), and levels between 30% and 40% below in Lithuania (66%), Hungary (64%), Poland and Romania (both 60%). The lowest price levels were found in Bulgaria (51%).

These data come from a report2 published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Food price levels varied by one to two across the Member States

Price levels for food and non-alcoholic beverages3 in 2011 ranged from 67% of the EU27 average in Bulgaria to 136% of the average in Denmark. Differences in price levels between Member States were less for this product group than for total goods and services. For alcoholic beverages and tobacco4, prices were lowest in Hungary (63% of the average) and highest in Ireland (163%). This large price variation is mainly due to differences in taxation of these products among Member States.

Clothing5 is one of the groups of products showing a smaller price variation among Member States, with Bulgaria (75% of the average) cheapest and Sweden (133%) most expensive. Consumer electronics6 is another group of products where prices differed less among Member States, ranging from 89% of the average in Poland to 125% in Malta.

Excluding Denmark (167% of the average), price differences among Member States were also limited for personal transport equipment7, with levels varying from 83% of the average in Bulgaria to 122% in Portugal.

For restaurants and hotels8, price variations were more significant, with price levels ranging from 45% of the average in Bulgaria to 154% of the average in Denmark.

Price level indices for consumer goods and services, 2011 (EU27=100)

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  The overall price levels included in this News Release relate to the concept of household final consumption expenditure (HFCE), which consists of all expenditure incurred by households on goods and services for consumption, including also rents for housing. HFCE does not include expenditure on goods or services that are consumed by households but incurred by government or non-profit institutions, for instance, government education services or healthcare. Furthermore, the HFCE does not include purchase of housing. The subcategories shown in the News Release comprise only a part of total HFCE, and therefore the total price level index for a Member State is not the aggregation of these six subcategories.

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  Eurostat, Statistics in Focus, 26/2012, "Major dispersions in consumer prices across Europe", available free of charge in pdf format on the Eurostat web site. See also the Statistics Explained article:

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Comparative_price_levels_of_consumer_goods_and_services

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  Includes bread and cereals, meat, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, oils and fats, fruits, vegetables, potatoes, other food, non-alcoholic beverages.

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  Includes spirits, wine, beer and tobacco.

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  Includes clothing materials, men's, women's, children’s and infant’s clothing, other articles of clothing and clothing accessories. Excludes cleaning, repair and hire of clothing.

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  Includes e.g. televisions, DVD players, receivers, audio systems, MP3 players, cameras, camcorders, desktop and laptop computers, monitors, printers, scanners, software, music CDs, movie DVDs, empty CDs and DVDs. Excludes repair of such equipment.

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  Includes motor cars, motor cycles and bicycles and excludes maintenance and repair of personal transport equipment, spare parts and fuel.

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  Includes e.g. restaurants, cafés, pubs, bars, canteens, hotels, youth hostels.

For further information on the data:

Eurostat news releases on the internet: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat