The Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) reports that butter prices are on an relentless upward trajectory. This month, a kilogram of butter will set you back 275.06 Czech crowns, translating to about 68.8 crowns for a standard 250-gram block. Compared to September, that’s an eye-watering 11.2% increase, and a staggering 34.04% leap from last year.
But it’s not just butter feeling the heat. Milk, Edam cheese, and eggs have all hit their peak prices for the year. A silver lining? White yogurt, which was at its priciest in September, has seen a 9.7% price drop, now costing 10.52 crowns for a 150-gram cup.
The butter price hike has been a steady climb since March, with October seeing a nearly 36% increase. In contrast, a liter of semi-skimmed milk, which had been holding steady at 24 to 25 crowns until September, now costs 25.54 crowns – a 1.79% monthly increase. However, milk still remains cheaper than last year’s price of 25.65 crowns.
Edam cheese has broken the 200-crown barrier for a kilogram block for the first time this year, marking an 11.51% increase from September and a 14.37% rise from last year. Egg prices have also climbed, with a pack of ten now costing over 49 crowns, up from 42.14 crowns in September and 48.37 crowns last year.
October saw price increases in seven out of 13 monitored items. Pork roast is up by 3.39%, with smaller increases in wheat flour and apples. On the flip side, potatoes have become significantly cheaper – down by more than a quarter compared to September. Sugar prices have also dropped by nearly 13%. Both items are cheaper than last year, with potatoes down 31.67% and sugar 28.45%.
In a broader economic context, food items were moved to a lower VAT rate of 12% at the beginning of this year. Conversely, most beverages now fall under the standard VAT rate of 21%.