Poverty forces Ukrainians to replace meat with potatoes: Products are rapidly becoming more expensive
Vegetables and bread are quickly becoming more expensive in Ukraine, citizens do not have money to buy meat, and the population compensates for its lack by increased consumption of cheaper potatoes.
This was stated by Oleg Pendzin, director of the Economic Discussion Club, at a press conference in Kyiv, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
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“In April, we had a fairly high increase in food prices, primarily for the so-called vegetable group. The price increase was very significant, the record was demonstrated by the so-called borscht set, these are potatoes, vegetables, onions, and beets. The price increase for cabbage and carrots in April was 2,4 times.
This is an absolutely unique situation, the fact itself is quite indicative. Onions grew by 77% or almost 3 UAH per kilogram. Beets increased by 45% or by 2 UAH per kilogram, potatoes by 22% or by 1,5 UAH per kilogram,” the expert said.
“55% of family income in Ukraine is spent on food, and in the food basket, borscht and bread are the main ingredients. Therefore, the rise in prices of vegetables has seriously hit the wallets of Ukrainians.
Bread continues to rise in price. Over 4 months this is 11%. This is a very large increase, approximately 10-12 kopecks per kilogram of bread. Now we have switched to potatoes in most cases, because bread is already expensive. At the same time, it is believed that we consume a third more potatoes than is required according to sanitary and biological standards. We overeat potatoes and significantly undereat meat. This is our consumer basket,” the expert added.
He explained that meat consumption in Ukraine is 52-53 kg per year per person, which is half as much as in Europe and significantly lower than the norm - 80 kg per capita per year.
Poverty forces Ukrainians to replace meat with potatoes: Food prices are rapidly rising.