The pandemic has triggered the prices of basic food products in supermarkets. In fact, the shopping cart type (includes fresh, packaged, hygiene and drugstore) 2.8% more expensive compared to last year, according to the annual study of supermarkets carried out by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU).
According to this analysis, the months of confinement and pandemic have had an impact on prices. During the months of confinement, when all the hostelry remained closed, all this consumption that was usually done outside was transferred to the home.
The result is an increase in the prices of fresh products, an average of 5% more expensive. Oranges are 46% more expensive today; cauliflower, 40%; lemons, 38%; pears, 34% and kiwis, 30%, to give several examples.
“The fever for flour and toilet paper may have subsided, but other transformations seem set to take hold. We spend more on products that we used to consume when going to bars or restaurants, such as beer, snacks or higher quality meats “OCU points out in its report.
Savings of 1,000 euros
In this context of economic crisis in which saving is so important, a consumer can save almost 1,000 euros a year depending on the supermarket where he buys. This represents almost 19% of the average annual expenditure of a family and would allow them to buy two more months at the cheapest establishment.
Depending on the city, The savings can range from 247 euros (in the case of Cuenca) to 3,226 euros per year, as is the case in Madrid, where there is more difference in prices between some supermarkets and others.
The OCU conducts this study every year. It analyzes 143,313 prices in 1,062 supermarkets, hypermarkets and discount stores spread over 65 Spanish cities. This year the results have been delayed in order to see the impact of the first state of alarm on prices.
By chains, Carrefour and Dia are the ones that have lowered prices the most, while Mercadona, Supersol and Eroski center have risen the most, according to the OCU.
The cheapest chain, like almost every year, is Dani and the most expensive, Sánchez Romero, in the capital. Jerez de la Frontera, Teruel and Zamora are the areas where you can make a cheaper purchase and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, the most expensive cities.
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