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Many Oulu residents were shocked last year at the steep rise in food prices, but this is unlikely to happen this year according to Finnish economists.
Last year saw food prices rise so quickly and constantly that many Oulu retailers were forced to cross out old prices by hand, plaster masking tape over all old prices or write new prices over laminated menus in biro.
Milk rocketed up 25 percent last year and flour was up by a staggering 44 percent. However, the slump means that, despite a few price increases at the beginning of the year, this is unlikely to be repeated.
Imports such as pasta and rice (which sky-rocketed last year) have actually gone down in price as world markets have declined and stagflation has set in.
Food companies have spoken of pressure, by the food industry, to raise some prices - especially meat - by as much as twelve percent but this is very unlikely to happen in the current economic climate as people stop purchasing and stores become desperate to shift their goods.
The price of fruit and vegetables has dramatically declined, especially the cost of imported goods such as oranges which were very high last year.
Price rises in Finland traditionally occur three times a year - January, May and September but the ecomomic climate has made this more frequent. Milk used to be set once a year, now it's every four months.
Lidl holds its price negotiations quite separately. Much of its produce is imported and it has been one of the great beneficiaries of the recession with customers turning to its no frills but cheap offers.
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