The EU has saved consumers cash on food, says study

Agriculture Correspondent

The figures show that Irish and EU consumers have benefited from CAP supports, according to food group Agri Aware.

The study, covering Ireland's 30 years EU membership, found the current price of a basket of staple food items is more than 30% lower than if it had tracked the general inflation rate since 1973.

Agri Aware, set up to create a greater understanding of the Irish agriculture and food industry, described some of the figures as startling.

If the price of a kilo of round steak had kept pace with inflation since 1973, it would now cost 14.02, or over 60% more than the 8.71 price in 2002.

And if the price of a kilo of back rashers had tracked inflation over the same period, it would now cost 12.43, or over 20% more than the 2002 average price of 10.20.

The study also showed that lamb gigot chops would be 14% more expensive and cooked ham 36% dearer.

Also more expensive would be potatoes (9%), onions (100%), milk (5%), bread (15%), eggs (over 40%) and sugar (10%). The analysis found a person on the average industrial wage spent nine hours and 55 minutes working in 1973 to earn enough to buy the basket of goods compared with four hours and 29 minutes in 2002.

Farmers received an average of 206 for each of their cattle in 1973 compared with 607 per animal last year. But if the 1973 figure had tracked inflation, the price paid to the farmer today would be a staggering 1,569 per animal, or 162% more.

Farmers received an average of 58 per tonne of barley in 1973 and 99 per tonne in 2002. Today's figure, if prices had followed inflation, would be 444 a tonne, almost 350% more.

Agri Aware chairman Mike Magan said the figures proved consumers as well as farmers had benefited from the CAP over the last 30 years.

"It is vital that these benefits to both consumers and farmers are communicated at this time of proposed policy change," he said.