Robust Supply Chains in the Agri-food Industry

This policy brief is one of a series of studies produced as part of the research project "Robust Value Chains in the Agricultural and Food Industry", focusing on agriculture, the agricultural and food industry and security of supply. As food is an everyday commodity, it must not only be available in sufficient quantities, but also affordable. Since the second half of 2021, there has been a noticeable increase in food prices, with double-digit rates of change between June 2022 and July 2023 compared to the same month in the previous year. This poses enormous challenges, especially for households with (very) low incomes, to cope with the costs of daily life. This policy brief examines the problem areas associated with rising food prices. It then presents a short-term forecast of price increases for food and beverages: inflation for these items is expected to average 5¼ percent for the year 2024 as a whole. Finally, this forecast is evaluated in the light of the current economic policy debate.