Illustratory image. (source: TASR)
During summer holidays, people visit restaurants and accommodation facilities and spend money more often. This year, people in Slovakia will pay a little less for ice cream, fresh fruits and vegetables, but a little more for groceries and non-alcoholic drinks compared to previous summer, shows a new analysis by Eva Sadovská, an analyst from the financial and investment group Wood & Company.
Generally speaking, food items usually bought in the summer has become cheaper. The price of fresh vegetables went down by 6.1 percent, while fresh fruit costs 2.8 percent less. Ice cream prices fell more significantly by 8.4 percent.
This year, people are paying less for milk, cheese and eggs, as well as oils and fats, their prices down by 2.9 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, mineral waters and juices are more expensive, with the most significant increase in prices posted by non-alcoholic beer with 6.2 percent. The price of bread and cereals has gone up by 3.3 percent, fish and seafood by 2.4 percent, while meat is currently 1.9 percent more expensive than last year.
Prices are also generally higher in restaurants, cafes, recreation and sports centres. Organised holiday tours are 7.4 percent more expensive.
Fuel prices are similar to those of last year.
"Currently, we assume that even during the holiday months we will be able to refuel at prices comparable to a year ago, that is, without significant price fluctuations," says Sadovská. The prices of train transport went up by 1.1 percent, while bus and plane tickets have gone up by 14.6 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.
According to Sadovská, in May the prices of goods and services in Slovakia rose by 2.2 percent year-on-year. Inflation remains at one of its lowest levels in the last three years. The rate of price increases in the country should remain at similarly low levels during the following summer months.
