The price comparison database for food that was promised last autumn is still missing – the ÖVP and the Greens are blaming each other
Vienna (OTS/SK) – Austria has been undefeated as the country with the highest inflation in Western Europe for over a year. Instead of price reductions – which were successful in other countries – Federal Minister Martin Kocher promised a price comparison portal for food in May 2023. The minister continued to promise that by autumn 2023 at the latest. To this day there is no trace of it anywhere. While Kocher blames his coalition partner for this, the Greens blame the ÖVP for this. We haven’t even received a suggestion yet. SPÖ club chairman Philip Kucher: “The prices in Austria have been far too high for two years and are continuing to rise. While the ÖVP and the Greens are putting on an unworthy spectacle of mutual blame, more and more people are having problems being able to afford to buy groceries. It’s very simple: In other countries, governments have successfully prevented price explosions through market interventions, but the Austrian federal government has not!” On the contrary, nothing will change until the National Council election, according to the government today. “If you needed any more proof that this government is finished, here it is,” said Kucher. ****
This week, the AK Monitor documented price increases in the area of cheap food of an average of 44 percent since the beginning of the inflation crisis. Compared to Germany, you pay around 1,000 euros more per year for traditional grocery shopping in Austria. Accordingly, Austria still has the highest inflation in Western Europe. “Instead of cheering up, you argue. The black-green standstill is too expensive for Austria.”
The SPÖ demands a course correction. Compared to pre-crisis levels, in addition to food, rents in Austria have also increased by up to 25 percent and energy costs by around 61 percent. “Inflation is eating through all of people’s basic needs. We finally have to respond to this with price-reducing measures.”
Specifically for the food sector, the SPÖ is calling for the abolition of VAT on everyday foodstuffs based on the Spanish model. An anti-inflation commission should ensure that the price reductions are received by customers and are not used to increase profits for food companies. (Final) lk/ls
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