According to the latest figures published by Statistics Norway (SSB), food prices increased by 4.5 percent over the past year, outpacing the general inflation rate of 2.6 percent.

READ MORE: How much money do you need to live on a single income in Norway?

However, from July to August, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices actually fell by 1.3 percent, in line with seasonal trends.

With price growth slowing overall, The Local digs deeper into the SSB statistics to identify the foods which have seen the smallest increases in the last year – as well as those tat have gone up the most.

Foods with moderate price growth

Several food items in Norway have seen relatively low price increases over the past year, with growth staying below 3 percent.

Flours and other cereals saw a price increase of 2.6 percent, while pasta products and couscous rose by 2.1 percent.

Beef and veal prices increased by 2.8 percent, closely followed by pork at 3 percent.

Dried, salted, or smoked meats also saw modest growth, rising by 2.3 percent.

Other notable items include confectionery products and alcoholic soft drinks, both of which increased by 2.9 percent, and whole milk, which saw a 2.8 percent rise.

Fresh or chilled fruit and dried fruit and nuts experienced some of the smallest increases at 1.7 percent each.

The foods that became cheaper in the last 12 months

On the other hand, some (though not many) food items have actually become cheaper over the last year.

Pizza and quiche prices dropped by 1.2 percent, while preserved fruit and fruit-based products decreased by 0.5 percent.

Baby food saw a modest decline of 0.7 percent.

The most significant price drop was seen in coffee, which fell by 4.4 percent.

Meats, excluding beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, saw a 2.5 percent reduction, and jams, marmalades, and honey decreased in price by 1.4 percent.

Steepest price hikes

Other foods have seen significant price increases over the past year.

Olive oil saw the steepest rise, jumping by 22.5 percent, while frozen fish followed closely with a 19.1 percent increase.

Chocolate prices also surged, rising by 14.6 percent, and fresh or chilled fish went up by 13.6 percent.

Rice saw a 13.0 percent increase, while eggs and fruit and vegetable juices rose by 11.6 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively.

SSB: Inflation slowed most for imported goods

In August, the overall twelve-month price growth for imported goods in Norway’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 1.9 percent, compared to 4.7 percent for Norwegian goods, excluding energy products.

READ ALSO: Food price rises in Norway three times higher than EU average

According to Espen Kristiansen from Statistics Norway, the price increase for imported goods has been falling more sharply than for Norwegian goods and services since the beginning of the year, though this trend was less pronounced in August compared to July.

Interestingly, furniture prices, which typically decline in August, contributed to higher price growth this year.

While prices for furniture, carpets, and floor coverings usually drop during this period, they increased by 0.7 percent in August 2023, contrasting with a 3.6 percent decrease in the same month last year.

This marks one of the few times since the 1990s that prices for this product group have risen in August.