Households spent nearly seven per cent more money on food last year than they did in 2010, according to national statistics.

Today the world remembers the founding of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (NAO), and the National Statistics Office has published data about the food sector in Malta, focusing on the economic aspects of consumption.

In 2011, household expenditure on food in the domestic market reached €617 million – marking an increase of 6.9 per cent over 2010.

There was an increase in household spending on most food items, ranging from 1.2 per cent on fruit to 20.5 per cent on fish. On the other hand, there was a drop in expenditure on oils and fats (4.6 per cent) and vegetables (six per cent).

Last year, food inflation measured by means of the 12-month moving average rate stood at 3.85 per cent, while the annual rate was 4.09 per cent.

The value of imported food for 2011 stood at €429.9 million – an increase of 7.5 per cent when compared to 2010. An increase was recorded in most food products, including oils and fats (17.6 per cent), sugar (15.4 per cent) and cereals (12.8 per cent).

On the other hand, Malta’s food exports declined by 4.3 per cent to €129.9 million.