The gradual increase in supermarket prices has been a constant recently for Portuguese consumers. This week, the food basket monitored by DECO Proteste, which includes 63 essential products, registered a new increase, standing at €225.11.
Although this is a slight increase of 0.48 cents compared to the previous week, the impact on household wallets continues to be felt.
The price of this basket is, however, €10.93 lower than that recorded in the first week of 2024. However, the upward trend affects several products, with some experiencing significant increases in a short period. Among the most affected are broccoli, whose price rose 49 cents per kilo (an increase of 16%), reaching €3.59 per kilo.
In addition to broccoli, spaghetti and extra virgin olive oil also saw increases. Spaghetti saw a 15% increase in the last week, while olive oil, which costs around €10 per litre, continues to be one of the products most affected by inflation.
Another food that has been putting pressure on consumers' budgets is the Gala apple. Since the beginning of the year, this fruit has seen a price hike, now ranking among the three products with the biggest increases. Currently, the Gala apple costs €2.36 per kilo, representing an increase of 19 cents compared to the previous price.
Inflation has not spared canned goods and cereals either. Canned tuna, for example, has increased by 42 cents per unit, while cereal flakes have risen by 27 cents. However, meat prices have remained relatively stable when compared to fish. Hake, one of the products most affected by the reduction in catches, is close to €11 per kilo, reflecting a shortage that has contributed to the price increase.
Among the products that have caused the most headaches for consumers, olive oil stands out. Since April 2023, the price of this essential commodity has been soaring in supermarkets, as a result of a situation of widespread inflation and challenges in agricultural production. However, there are signs that this trend could reverse. “The high production of olive oil in Spain could contribute to a general reduction in prices”, says the newspaper El Economista, which foresees a relief in the costs of olive oil in the near future.
Spanish producers are optimistic about the outcome of this year’s harvest, estimating production of between 1.4 and 1.7 million tons. This harvest could lead to a significant drop in the price of olive oil, reaching prices close to €5 per litre. Although this forecast is a light at the end of the tunnel, for now consumers continue to feel the burden of high prices in supermarkets.
Source https://postal.pt/
