France in Focus

..... or are prices for everything going through the roof.
We're on the last stage of renovating and I think we're going to have to put it on hold because of the price of timber and all the rest of the stuff we need at the moment.

I usually treat myself to a couple of bars of Aldi chocolate when we go shopping once a month, it's gone up from 50centimes to 79 centimes a bar in a month. I don't think that comes from the Ukraine does it?

Another way to increase profits, like the energy companies making record profits but need to put prices up to the end consumer to make ends meet.

We've noticed things creeping up, a few centimes every week. We also noticed a while ago that Weetabix packets have cut down by a third (2 packets of 10 instead of 3) though we didn't check the price difference (if there is any ...).
Prior to Ukraine, Covid was an excuse given for shortages, prices rising .....

We also noticed the price of sucrine lettuce go up : it used to be 99c for 3 now it's 99c for 2 (we don't buy them, it's just an observation). Our own are nearly ready.

It's the fruit, veg and meat prices that I notice the most. I don't eat much meat but OH likes to be a carnivore. I'm gradually introducing more veg dishes and hoping to steer him towards chunky soups in the autumn.
In the absence of hard evidence, I don't subscribe to the idea that price rises = profiteering. When you subtract overheads, margins are thin and have already been cut to the bone. I'm sure most retailers want to keep their customers and are well aware of their financial difficulties.

I can't comment on meat price rises as I've only just started buying it now we have two meat eaters in the house - but I must say I was quiet surprised at how expensive meat is.

It always has been in France, Char, especially if you want quality. Otherwise the cheaper end is, say beef, is old cow which needs substantial cooking and sauces to make it edible.

Intermarche for weeks a box of 2 avocados 2,99. Last week up to 3,19. The price of cucumbers makes me cringe ie 1,49 and I do love my cucumber on a cheese sarnie so I wait for an offer and finally pomegranates 1,29 a piece now 1,99 ouch! I love my pomegranates as well. Hey ho I'm not giving up my favourite things especially whiskers on kittens

I cook now and again a cheap cut of meat on a very low temperature overnight. It comes out so tender that it just falls to pieces. Lovely if you're wanting pulled pork with BBQ sauce - I use the Hairy Bikers recipe except I cook the pork as said overnight and it's very good

It is even bad here. And inflation under 3%.

Diesel transport and related production costs to name one issue. Is commercial electricity capped also?

I noticed today a packet of crisps with sel de guérande €3,40 regular size and one of those blown up so that you can't feel how little there is inside.