Bread prices rise by almost a fifth in the eurozone

The price of bread in the eurozone rose by an average of 18 percent in August compared to the same month last year, reports the European statistics agency Eurostat. In Luxembourg, the increase was less than 10 percent, according to the agency.

Hungary, where residents have to pay around 66 percent more for bread, showed by far the largest increase within the EU. In Lithuania, Estonia and Slovakia, bread prices also rose sharply, with increases of around 33 percent. In France (plus 8 percent), people were hit the least hard at the checkout of their baguettes and croissants.

According to Eurostat, the sharp price increases are mainly due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereals, corn, oilseeds and Fertilizers. The war disrupted world markets for these products.