Thursday 19 February 2009

The Hunt for Mr Prawo Jazdy

A funny story from the BBC involving a mysterious Pole who is Ireland's worst driver.

The mystery of Ireland's worst driver

Thanks for that, Phil.

Monday 2 February 2009

Prices in Lithuania not much different from prices in other EU countries

This article, which I found here, caught my eye. Now if salaries would just catch up... I'd even be happy with 75% of the average in western Europe. According to what I found at this website, the average salary in the EU is EUR 32,414 (USD 41,538) and the average salary in eastern European countries is less than EUR 10,000 (USD 12,815). That sounds about right. In countries like Denmark, the UK, and Germany, the average annual salary is around EUR 40,000 (USD 51,259).

Here's my translation of the article.

Average prices in Lithuania little different from those in other EU countries

According to a new European Commission consumer price report, average prices in Lithuania are not smaller than those in other European Union countries. As reported today in the newspaper Latvijas Avize, the cheapest potatoes (EUR .54/USD .69) can be found in Latvia. For comparison, a kilogram of potatoes costs EUR .90/USD 1.15 in Lithuania, .62/.79 in Poland, and 1.56/2.00 in Ireland.


Milk costs .79/1.01 in Lithuania, .84/1.08 in Latvia and Poland, and 1.12/1.44 in Ireland.

Butter however costs more in Latvia (1.59/2.04) than it does in other countries. In neighboring countries it costs 1.35/1.73. A cup of coffee costs .78/1.00 in Lithuania, 1.08/1.38 in Latvia, and 1.38/1.77 in Poland.

Prices for clothing were not given.

(Prices below in EUR)

Product Ireland Latvia Lithuania Poland
white bread 1.04 0.71 0.70 0.63
pork (kg) - 5.33 4.39 3.72
chicken (kg) 4.37 2.66 2.48 1.87
milk (l) 1.12 0.84 0.79 0.84
eggs (10) 3.05 1.32 1.26 1.19
butter (kg) 1.30 1.59 1.35 1.35
carrots (kg) 1.37 1.05 0.83 0.91
potatoes (kg) 1.56 0.54 0.90 0.62
orange juice (l) 1.75 1.07 1.20 1.27
beer (l) - 1.38 1.29 1.41
newspaper - 0.53 0.51 0.41
cup of coffee - 1.08 0.78 1.38