EU survey shows Denmark and Norway most expensive, with Macedonia cheapest – but Britain places well above average
Britain has some of the highest prices for alcohol and tobacco in the European Union and shoppers pay more than average for milk, cheese and eggs, according to official figures from the EU statistical office, Eurostat.
Booze prices in Britain are 43% above the EU average, while cigarettes cost 94% more and are the third highest in the EU, only just behind Ireland and Norway.
Inside the EU, Denmark has the highest overall price level but Eurostat, which surveyed an additional 10 non-EU members in Europe, found that Norway is worst for costs, while Macedonia is cheapest.
General food and non-alcoholic beverage prices in Britain are 4% above the EU average, and milk, cheese and eggs are 7% more. However bread prices are 11% below the average for Europe.
The average figures for the EU include prices in the newer members such as Romania and Bulgaria. Compared with the major western European countries, such as France and Germany, the UK's price level (apart from alcohol and tobacco) is favourable.
For example, average food prices in Italy are significantly higher than in Britain, while in France meat costs 23% more than in the UK, and in Germany 28% more.
Among the major economies, Spain is best value. In almost every category, its prices are about one-tenth lower than the EU average, and nearly a quarter below the price level in France. For example, meat in Spain costs one-third less than in France.
But other countries that went through a boom and bust following their entry into the euro still have very high price levels. In Cyprus, milk, cheese and eggs are 41% above the EU average, while in Greece, bread and milk are significantly pricier than average. In Ireland, despite a steep rise in unemployment and wage cuts, prices remain among the highest in Europe. The average Irish food price is 18% higher than the rest of the EU, and its alcohol prices are the highest in the EU barring Finland.
Norway remains the country where prices for almost everything are the highest in Europe and possibly the world. Average food prices are 86% higher than across the EU; milk, cheese and eggs are 114% more and alcohol is 188% higher.
In the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, home to Europe's lowest prices, alcohol is half the price of the UK, while food is 70% cheaper than Norway. Turkey has surprisingly high food prices despite having much lower average earnings than European countries. Average food prices in the country are 88% of the EU average, with milk, cheese and eggs 22% more.
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