Consumer price levels in 2010 Price levels varied by one to three across the EU27 Member States

STAT/11/95

28 June 2011

Consumer price levels in 2010
Price levels varied by one to three across the EU27 Member States

In 2010, price levels for consumer goods and services1 differed widely across Member States. Denmark (143% of the EU27 average) had the highest price level, followed by Finland (123%). Price levels of 10% to 20% above the EU27 average were found in Luxembourg and Sweden (both 120%), Ireland (118%) Belgium and France (both 112%), while Austria (107%), the Netherlands (106%), Germany and Italy (both 104%) were around 5% above the average. The United Kingdom (100%) was on the EU27 average.

Spain (97% of the EU27 average) and Greece (96%) were just below the average, while Cyprus (89%), Portugal (88%) and Slovenia (84%) were between 10% and 20% below. Price levels between 20% and 30% below the average were observed in Malta (79%), Estonia (75%), the Czech Republic (72%) and Slovakia (71%), and levels between 30% and 40% below in Latvia (69%), Hungary (65%), Lithuania and Poland (both 63%). The lowest price levels were found in Bulgaria (51%) and Romania (59%).

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

Highest price levels in Denmark and lowest in Bulgaria

Price levels for food and non-alcoholic beverages3 in 2010 ranged from 66% of the EU27 average in Bulgaria to 136% of the average in Denmark. Differences in price levels between Member States were smaller for this product group than for total goods and services. For alcoholic beverages and tobacco4, prices were lowest in Bulgaria and Romania (both 64% of the average) and highest in Ireland (170%). 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 the smallest price variation among Member States. Bulgaria (75% of the average) was cheapest and Sweden (126% of the average) was most expensive for clothing.

Consumer electronics6 is another group of products where prices differed less among Member States, from 89% of the average in Bulgaria to 115% in Sweden. Excluding Denmark (167% of the average), price differences among Member States were also limited for personal transport equipment7, with levels varying from 88% of the EU27 average in Bulgaria, Estonia and Romania to 120% in Portugal.

For restaurants and hotels8, price variations were more significant, with price levels ranging from 45% of the average in Bulgaria to 153% of the average in Denmark.

Price level indices for consumer goods and services, 2010 (EU27=100)

• 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.

• Eurostat, Statistics in Focus, 28/2011, "Significant differences in consumer prices across Europe", available free of charge in pdf format on the Eurostat web site.

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

• Includes spirits, wine, beer and tobacco.

• 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.

• 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.

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

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

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