Eurostat figures make retail prices in Poland look cheap compared with EU

According to an analysis prepared by Eurostat, the retail prices of food, alcohol and tobacco are lower in Poland than in the countries of the European Union, by a third. Meat is also exceptionally cheap although economic experts claim that in several cases the quality of the product on offer is much poorer. The prices of bread and grain products stand at 57% of the prices for the same products in the EU whereas the prices of milk, cheese and eggs are 58% of their EU counterparts. Cigarettes are also very cheap in Poland. The government is reluctant to introduce too rapid an increase in excise on tobacco for fear that it would trigger illegal imports from abroad. The prices of imported goods including coffee, tea and cocoa are relatively high (81%). It is not likely that after becoming an EU member, food prices will grow. In spite of the Common Market, price differences within the EU remain high. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) A.Z.