Easter baking in the Czech Republic is set to be more expensive this year, as the price of ingredients has increased by an average of 32% compared to the previous year. According to promotional flyers from the country’s major retailers, of the nine ingredients needed for baking Easter lamb cakes or mazanec, people will have to pay more for eight, with milk and granulated sugar experiencing the most significant price increase. The average discount for selected items in promotional flyers was 26% this year, two percentage points less than last year.

The rising prices of milk and sugar have doubled and increased by 88%, respectively, compared to last year’s Easter. A pack of ten size M eggs is selling on average for CZK 44 in advertisements, approximately CZK 13 more than last year. There has also been a considerable percentage increase (63%) in the price of baking powder. However, given the low purchase cost, customers will only pay one koruna more per pack. The price of 100g of raisins has increased roughly the same year-on-year.

Jaroslav Staněk from Česká distribuční, a company that analyzed and compared prices in promotional flyers from the seven largest Czech retailers, said, “Easter is the first specific period of the year when consumers’ interest in buying specific items increases, particularly eggs or baking ingredients. Compared to last year, we must pay the most for milk, sugar, or eggs, an integral part of Easter.”

As a result of these rising prices, bakers will pay CZK 60 for ingredients to make Easter lamb cakes, a third (CZK 15) more than last year. The same increase applies to the purchase of baking ingredients for Easter mazanec.

This increase in prices is set to put a strain on the budgets of many Czech families during the Easter holidays. Nevertheless, some retailers have stated that they plan to offer customers an extensive range of products, which should help ease the financial burden on families. Customers are advised to look out for special deals and discounts to reduce the cost of their Easter shopping.

Article by Prague Forum