Many people are still annoyed about rising food prices. But now discounters and supermarkets are reducing prices for many popular foods again. Experts assess whether this marks the end of inflation.

Prices in supermarkets have risen over several months. But now many discounters and supermarkets are ushering in the end of the wave of expensive prices – at least on selected products. As a result, food was cheaper in March than a year earlier for the first time since February 2015. Consumers paid 0.7 percent less for food and drinks. This meant that inflation was even below the inflation rate, as the Federal Statistical Office announced.

From this Monday, Aldi Nord, Aldi Süd and Norma will be reducing many everyday products. The development is particularly important for consumers. Discounter giant Aldi is considered an important price provider. At the same time, the following applies to Norma: If prices fall here, competitors automatically follow suit.

FOCUS online summarizes the price reductions and says how much you can save now.

Yogurt:

Toast:

oil

Muesli

Coffee products:

Rather unlikely.

The price radar from FOCUS online repeatedly detects a series of price reductions. Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord have reduced the prices for chicken breast fillet, nut kernels, spelled flour and mustard. There were also significant price adjustments.

For example, chocolate cookies, steaks, macadamia nuts, ice cream, detergent, grilled cheese, cake bases and processed cheese. The mild detergent from Tandil (Aldi Süd / Aldi Nord) has cost 2.65 euros since the beginning of the month. In April, customers paid 2.15 euros for it. Lidl then followed suit with its Formil detergent. The prices for detergent from Rewe’s own brand Ja increased similarly. Another example? Mascarpone. The price rose across the board by 10 cents. The own brand at Rewe and Edeka has broken through the 1.95 euro mark for the first time and is now at 1.99 euros. A year earlier, the product was available for 1.79 euros.

Overall, the situation remains dynamic and tense. The background is the further increase in raw material, transport, energy, production and personnel costs. Accordingly, many manufacturers have demanded price increases in the conditions negotiations.

“Companies have already passed on a large part of their increased costs to customers, but at the same time demand has fallen,” reports Ifo economics chief Timo Wollmershäuser. In addition, personnel costs increased at the beginning of the year. According to economists, people in Germany can no longer hope for a significant easing of prices.

And a current example shows that manufacturers continue to insist on higher prices despite the relaxed inflation rate.

Supermarket giant Rewe and discounter Penny are arguing with Mondelez. Apparently there are now even gaps on the shelves in many branches. with Mondelez. Apparently there are now even gaps on the shelves in many branches. The situation between manufacturers and retailers has eased in recent months. The last major price negotiations had gone smoothly and an agreement was reached very quickly. But apparently not across the board.

Confectionery from various Mondelez brands such as “Milka”, “Oreo” and “Tuc” are particularly affected. Self-employed Rewe merchants report to the industry service that the popular 100-gram Milka bar in particular is slowly becoming scarce.

Mondelez is apparently insisting on higher prices, which Rewe does not want to accept for its branches. The manufacturer cites the increase in raw material prices for cocoa as the reason for the price increase. This temporarily exploded on the trading markets shortly before Easter.

As a result, many producers have increased their prices this year or announced them for summer.

The affected branches are apparently covering up the shelf gaps with competing products. Brands such as “Rewe Beste Wahl”, “Rewe Bio”, “Schogetten”, “Knoppers” and “Kit Kat” replace the missing confectionery.