ISTANBUL (AA) – Citing increasing food prices, the European statistical authority said Monday that bread is more expensive than ever across the EU.

Eurostat stressed that food prices increased sharply across the bloc due to “Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has significantly disturbed global markets.”

Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of grain, wheat, maize, oilseeds and fertilizer, Eurostat noted.

“Prices for cooking oils and fats have risen particularly sharply, but important staple foods such as bread have also become significantly more costly,” it added.

Last month, the annual inflation rate in the euro area was 9.1%, a historical high, while the price of bread in the EU rose 18% versus August 2021.

The highest increase was recorded in Hungary with 66%, followed by Lithuania (33%) and Estonia and Slovakia (32%) each.