2024-01-07 22:08:06
After the bosses of the large distribution chains, it is the turn of the Minister of the Economy to predict a drop in food prices in 2024. “I am sure that certain prices will fall,” announced Bruno Le Maire on France 3 this Sunday, specifying that these reductions would be seen “as soon as the commercial negotiations have ended”, on January 31.
“Last year, when there was a commercial negotiation, there was a 15% price increase. Today, we are more around 5%. It’s still too much,” he said. “My responsibility is to ensure that prices fall on as many products as possible,” repeated the minister.
According to him, consumers should see a reduction in prices “on butter, on oils, on certain products such as poultry and on certain meats”, insisting on the fact that this will “not simply be a stabilization”. However, “it is not a question of returning to pre-crisis prices. It won’t happen,” he said.
The bosses of E. Leclerc, Système U and Intermarché have made the same forecasts in recent weeks. “The good news is that double-digit inflation is over,” even declared Thierry Cotillard, president of the Les Mousquetaires group during an interview with West France SATURDAY.
“Let’s forget check policies”
Food prices, which had been the main driver of inflation in 2023 peaking at almost 16% in the spring, continued to slow in December, rising 7.1% year-on-year in December ( compared to 7.7% in November).
Asked about the possibility of organizing commercial negotiations between distributors and suppliers throughout the year, Bruno Le Maire was against it. “I think it would cause a lot of problems for our producers,” and added: “I’m afraid it would greatly weaken our farmers. »
Asked about the food checks demanded by certain actors to help the most vulnerable French people, the minister indicated that he did not think that this was “the right way to follow”, favoring aid to associations and food banks. “Let’s forget about check policies, we can’t afford them today,” he said.
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