Food inflation in 2011 at 4.09% in 2011

In 2011, consumption expenditure on food incurred by private households was estimated at €617 million, an increase of 6.9 per cent over 2010. Last year, the share of household expenditure on food was estimated at 13.5 per cent of the total private final expenditure in the domestic market.

In 2011, there was an increase in household spending on most food items, ranging from 1.2 per cent on fruit to 20.5 per cent on fish when compared to 2010. On the other hand, there was a drop in expenditure on oils and fats, and vegetables, of 4.6 and 6.0 per cent respectively.

Last year, food inflation measured by means of the 12-month moving average rate was 3.85 per cent, while the annual rate was 4.09 per cent. Food prices were higher in respect of sugar, eggs, fish, meat and fresh bread and pastry.

Current figures for 2011 put the value of imported foodstuffs at €429.9 million, an increase of 7.5 per cent when compared to 2010. An increase was recorded in most food products, including oils and fats ( 17.6 per cent), sugar ( 15.4 per cent) and cereals ( 12.8 per cent).

Malta's food exports declined by 4.3 per cent to an estimated value of €129.9 million when compared to 2010. This was mainly due to a drop of 20.7 per cent in fish exports.