Fears of rising prices

Change in prices after Poland's accession to the European Union
A survey conducted by Ipsos in the first half of June, however, indicates that Poles have not noticed prices increases in most categories of products and services. An important exception are food products. Nearly all the respondents agreed that the prices of these products had risen following Poland's accession to the Union. Only 15% of them felt that food prices had remained unchanged or fallen. A majority of Poles also agreed that apartments had become more expensive due to Poland's entrance into the EU. Moreover, nearly 40% of the respondents said that the prices of new passenger cars had risen after May 1st.

In your opinion, have prices of the following products and services increased, declined or remained unchanged as a result of Poland's accession to the European Union:

In the case of the other categories, the respondents predominantly believed that the prices of products and services had remained unchanged or even fallen after Poland's accession to the EU. The prices of telephone calls were perceived to have changed the most favorably.

Despite the fact that a majority of Poles considered prices to have risen in only a few product and service categories, the observed increases in food products could have a decisive effect on the overall attitude toward integration. This hypothesis is confirmed by recently published studies on the structure of Poles' everyday expenditures, which show that food products account for the largest share of these expenditures. Thus, higher prices in this area are felt to be the most burdensome by a majority of Poles.

Expected changes in prices as a result of Poland's accession to the European Union
Poles look less optimistically upon price trends in the near future. According to a majority of the respondents, not only food products, apartments and new cars will get more expensive in the future, but also clothes and footwear. On the other hand, the prices of consumer electronics, used passenger cars and telephone calls should remain at the same level or decline.

And do you think that in the future - as a result of Poland's accession to the European Union - prices of the following products and services will increase, decline or remain unchanged:

The respondents' general attitude toward European integration wields a significant influence on their assessment of future price trends. In general, those dissatisfied with Poland's accession to the European Union are more likely to believe that the prices of most products and services will rise. It's interesting to note, moreover, that general attitude to European integration also exerts a significant influence on the perception of current price changes. Even in the case of such categories as telephone calls, people dissatisfied with Poland's accession to the EU are convinced that the prices of these services rose after May 1^st.