Thought the war in Ukraine or supply chain snarls were to blame for rising prices? You must not know 'bout Beyonce.
Ednews informs via BBC that the start of the singer's world tour in Sweden last month sparked such a frenzy of demand for hotels and restaurant meals that it has shown up in the country's economic statistics.
Sweden reported higher-than-expected inflation of 9.7% in May.
Rising prices for hotels and restaurants were behind the surprise.
Michael Grahn, economist at Danske Bank, said he thought Beyonce helped drive the jump in hotel rates. She may also have been the force behind the unexpectedly strong uptick in recreation and culture prices, he said.
"I wouldn't ... blame Beyonce for [the] high inflation print, but her performance and global demand to see her perform in Sweden apparently added a little to it," he wrote in an email to the BBC.
There is little doubt that the singer's first solo tour in seven years marks a big economic moment. At least one estimate suggests the run could gross almost £2bn by the time it ends in September.
Searches for accommodations in cities on the tour shot up after it was announced, Airbnb reported. Tickets for many concerts sold out within days and prices soared on the resale market.
