Corona, AI, cold wave’three used’… Soaring table prices-Segye Ilbo

Housewife A has recently increased the burden of food expenses as his family spends longer at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The prices of meat, eggs, and fruits that are eaten every day have risen, and household expenses have increased further. Mr. A sighed, saying, “There are no items that are not so scary to go to the mart,” and “I am worried because the New Year holidays are approaching, but there is no sign of falling.”

From the beginning of the year, shopping cart prices have been fluctuating.

Prices of winter vegetables, which have been damaged by a recent record cold, have soared, and prices of eggs, chicken and duck have also jumped due to the influence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). The prices of processed foods such as tofu, bean sprouts, and canned food are also rising.

According to the Agricultural Product Distribution Information (KAMIS) of the Korea Agricultural and Fisheries Food Distribution Corporation (aT) on the 12th, the price of 20kg (product) of rice on the day was 59723 won, up 15.3% from the price of 51,790 won a year ago.

As the cold wave continues, the prices of vegetables that have suffered from cold damage are also skyrocketing. 1kg (product) of onions jumped 58.5% to 2547 won.

In addition, 100g of pork belly (heavy goods) rose 25.4% to 2107 won, and apples rose 55.3% to 28545 won based on 10 pieces. Fruits have been on the rise since last year’s long rainy season and typhoons.

In the aftermath of AI, prices for chicken, duck and eggs are also rising. A plate of eggs (special eggs, heavy goods) was 6248 won, up 12.2% from a month ago and 17.7% from a year ago.

On that day, at A Large Mart, 10kg of rice (Uiseongjin rice) was 34900 won, up 9.4% from last year’s price (31,900 won). Onion, pork belly, and apple jumped 20.3%, 25.3%, and 42.5%, respectively.

Processed foods are also rising in series. Sampyo plans to increase the price of four canned seafood products such as saury and mackerel by an average of 36% from the 18th. This price increase has been 10 years since 2011. Dongwon F&B also raised the price of canned saury and mackerel by 13% and 16%, respectively, last month.

Coca-Cola Beverage has increased the price of Coca-Cola sold at convenience stores by 100-200 won since the new year.

This is a price increase in about 4 years and 2 months.

Dong-A Otsuka has also increased the price of Pocari Sweat cans and Oronamin C bottles sold at convenience stores from the new year by 100 won and 200 won, respectively. Haitai htb also raised the price of’Pyeongchangsoo’ (2L) for convenience stores by 100 won due to changes in the distribution environment and rising costs.

According to the National Statistical Office, in December of last year, the total consumer price rose only 0.5% from the same period last year. However, as agricultural and marine products, which are closely related to diet, jumped 9.7%, the experiential living prices of common people continue to increase.

As raw material prices such as agricultural and marine products rise, food companies’ price hikes are expected to continue for some time.

A food industry official said, “Because consumers are sensitive to price increases, we try to minimize adjustments, but prices are inevitable due to changes in the distribution environment and cost increases such as raw and subsidiary materials.”

Reporter Baek So-yong swinia@segye.com

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