(ANSA) - STOCKHOLM, DEC 31 - In 2022 the Swedish furniture giant Ikea will be forced to increase prices by 9% on average in the face of persistent shortages and costly transport problems in the global economy.
"Unfortunately, for the first time since rising costs began to affect the global economy, we will have to pass on some cost increases to our customers," said IngkaGroup, the holding company that controls 367 of IKEA's 422 stores, or more than 90% of its stores.
According to Ingka, the main increases in transport costs and supply prices "are felt primarily in North America and Europe". "The average increase of the Ingka Group will be 9% worldwide, with variations depending on the countries of the group and the range, reflecting local inflationary pressures," the group indicated.
Ikea's announcement comes in a context of sharp acceleration of inflation around the world, driven by the deep disruption of distribution chains and the shortage of essential products for international trade.
The phenomenon was accompanied by a surge in the prices of raw materials (wood, copper, steel) and energy (petrol, gas, electricity).
In the euro zone, inflation reached 4.9% over a year in November, a record since the introduction of the single currency in 1999. In the United States, the increase in prices was 6.8% last month compared to November 2020, its highest level in 39 years.
(HANDLE).