It has been one of the biggest conditioning factors of the year, and given its status at the end of 2022, everything indicates that it may continue to do so in 2023. Therefore, the Government abolition of VAT on the most basic products such as bread, eggs, milk, fruit or vegetables, and a 10% to 5% reduction in oil and pasta, as well as 200 euro check for vulnerable families. what happened in 2022 Shopping cart? And more importantly, What is expected next?
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), food products 15.3% more expensive in November -latest data-, compared to a year ago. This means that food is almost twice as expensive as life in general, because the Consumer Price Index (CPI) A record 10.8% increase in July, has since fallen to 6.8% in November. On the other hand, food prices increased uninterruptedly, reaching a record high of 15.4% in October. In November, the rate is lower, but only one-tenth. The development of the annual rate of core inflation (which excludes the most volatile elements such as energy and unprocessed food) rose to 6.9% in December, one point above the general average.
Again, according to INE data, the products whose prices increased in November (last detailed data) are as follows: non-olive oils (+55.9%), Candy (+50%), Fame (+37.6%), Butter (+37.5%), sauces (+32.1%), skimmed milk (+31%) and all (+30.9%), bakery products other than bread (+27.4%), eggs (+27.1%) and olive oil (+25.9%). These foods also lead the list of products that have become more expensive so far this year. This does not mean that they are the most expensive in the supermarket, but rather the ones that have increased in price the most compared to the same month of 2021.
Prices may rise or fall depending on how the harvest is going, the cost of producing them, or interruptions in supply routes. “We’ve got it all this year,” Francesc Reguant, chair of the Col·legi d’Economistes de Catalunya’s Agri-Food Economics Commission, introduces, and yet points out what’s causing the chart to skyrocket (and do more). some products are more expensive than others) the war in ukraine. “The war broke out between the two most important countries for the production of basic products: Ukraine and Russia are the main exporters of grain, sunflower oil and fertilizers,” explains the expert.
The cost of a basket of ten food products considered essential for a balanced diet is now about 25 euros. The prices of these products in the three supermarkets with the largest share in Catalonia are the average. This batch includes 1 kilo of pasta, a pot of lentils, extra virgin olive oil, ground beef, a can of milk and a dozen eggs, all private label, plus a bunch of chard, a net with potatoes, and another orange and a loaf of bread.
According to economist Francesc Reguant, the situation eases. First of all, it is based on forecasts of future markets, environments in which the terms of purchase and sale of certain materials in the short, medium or long term are decided. They predict it will be a year from now approximately 2% increase, a much lower percentage than today. “We are in the process of lowering prices,” Reguant explains, adding the fall in energy and fuel prices to the equation. In any case, “one thing is very clear, it’s full of uncertainty: If the war ends now, all prices will return to balance, but if Russia drops an atomic bomb, tomorrow the prices will be fivefold.
One of these is the abolition of 4% VAT on bread, bread flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, legumes, tubers (potatoes) and grains, and reduction from 10% to 5% on oil and dough. caution will remain By June 30 or until the base annual inflation rateexcluding energy and unprocessed food prices, less than 5.5%. Other support consists of a one-time check of 200 euros for income less than 27,000 euros per year and assets of less than 75,000 euros excluding habitual residence. According to the calculation of the weekly shopping cart for a family of four, you will save 122.84 euros, approximately 3.5 euros.
The proposal of supermarkets and commerce in general, as well as the smallest businesses, was for the Government to lower the VAT on food. This was expressed by the main associations of companies in the distribution sector after meeting with Yolanda Díaz, assuring that such a measure was carried out in Germany in 2020 with positive results for six months. they also ask temporarily suspend environmental taxes Penalizing consumption and reducing regulatory costs.
The Consumers and Users Association (OKU) decided to reduce VAT for one season on some basic foodstuffs such as fruits and vegetables, pulses, rice, pasta, meat, fish, milk, eggs, and bread.