Although inflation was down slightly in July 2023, at +4.3% year-on-year, according to Insee, food prices rose by 13.4%. In a country marked by economic fluctuations and regional differences,a dive intoinflation and price figures reveals a complex and heterogeneous reality.
An analysis of the consumer price index map by département, compiled by France Info and NielsenIQ, reveals striking disparities across the country, raising questions about price differentials and living costs by département. Vendée stands out as the department where shopping is the least expensive, in stark contrast to Parisians, who spend the most on their daily shopping. This disparity is part of a recurring pattern: the Paris-Lyon-Marseille axis and the South-East are more expensive than the national average, while the western départements remain much more affordable.
These price differences can be explained in part by the high cost of premises and utilities in major cities, accentuating the pressure on consumers. For the Alpine regions, it's the complexity of transport routes that impacts prices, with higher fuel and delivery costs due to the more tortuous routes taken by transporters.
