Beer price in pubs rises three times faster than in shops

The price of lager in pubs has risen three times faster than in supermarkets over the past ten years. This is evident from new figures on average prices up to and including 2016.

A lager in a pub cost an average of 2.43 euros last year. That is 72 cents more than in 2006, an increase of 42 percent. During the same period, beer in a crate in the supermarket became 18 cents more expensive per liter. A liter of lager cost 1.49 euros last year, 14 percent more than ten years earlier. So that is 0.45 euros per 30 cl glass of lager.

Average prices versus consumer price index

The development of these prices over time cannot be compared with the development of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For example, the price development of lager in the table of average prices differs from the development of the product group ‘lager’ in the table with consumer price indices.

A number of factors cause these differences. Firstly, average prices concern narrowly defined products, whereas the CPI often exhibits greater diversity within a product group. In the case of lager, for example, the average price applies to 1 liter of lager from a crate, whereas the lager group in the CPI includes all types of lager and pilsner, in order to determine the overall price trend for the consumer.

There are other causes for the difference, related to the fact that consumer preferences change over time. For instance, he or she may choose cheaper or more expensive types of lager than in the past. As a result, the composition of the lager group in the CPI changes, while the beer item in average prices remains unchanged.

Source: CBS

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