How inflation stole Christmas across Europe
How inflation stole Christmas across Europe
Rising cost of food and drink and presents such as books takes shine off festivities
Christmas can't be stolen, the Grinch taught us that. Whats next? You're going to tell me that real christmas is hard to feel good about when your family can't afford shit? Bahumbug!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
While in the UK, Ireland, France and Germany poultry such as turkey, goose or duck is usually at the centre of the table, fish is popular in eastern Europe and pork takes pride of place in many Nordic countries.
Problems with bird flu have added to the costs for poultry producers across Europe, while farmed salmon production has been affected by pests and diseases and wild fish stocks have been overstretched by higher demand and the climate crisis.
In Norway, where the most popular Christmas dinner is pork ribs or belly (although mutton or lamb are also a firm favourite), families will be paying 10% more for the pleasure this year and 34% more than in 2020.
Unseasonable or extreme weather across Europe, worsened by the climate crisis, has led to sodden fields in the UK and drought in southern countries such as Spain, both of which have hit production.
Cocoa prices have reached their highest level on the commodities markets since the 1970s after a series of poor harvests in Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire, two important growing countries.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to fuel prices skyrocketing in many countries, making a drive home a far more expensive choice than past Christmas with a second surge after the attacks in Israel and Gaza.
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I fixed a typo in the title:
How
InflationPutin stole Christmas across Europe.Putin definitely contributed massively, but this is a multifaceted issue without a silver bullet. Climate change affecting farming yields, post-COVID economic stress, governments repeatedly committing economic suicide, late stage capitalism eating itself, the list goes on.
This may be controversial but I think another factor that should be included is the culture we have built (and capitalism has built) around consumption.
Damn, I didn't realise Putin was a Tory, their rule for over a decade has been a very significant driver of our woes.
Though it's important to note that what the other user said is very true, this is a multifaceted issue.
Still, from where I'm sat, we can start improving things by freeing ourselves from the Tories, and if possible burying their evil "Let's just make the rich richer" political party for good.
Oh no, are Tories spreading across Europe?