Although the problem has become more prominent in recent months, the truth is that since the outbreak of the pandemic The increase in the price of basic products did not stopThis translated into a significant increase in the effort required of households to fill the pantry. In other words, that money is running low each time he gets a higher salary percentage in the supermarket and in the shopping cart.
And not a small amount. Considering the estimates for this exercise, in just four years Every family in the Valencian Community will have to increase their food budget by at least: 1,247 Euros per year. At least these are the calculations the technicians make. patecoBody under the Council of Chambers of Commerce that analyzes the impact of inflation on the domestic economy of autonomous households.
Overall, according to these estimates, the increase in the CPI in all sectors, including gasoline and electricity, meant that the average family had to allocate a budget. Up to 1,717 euros more to buy the same goods and services in 2022 more than a year ago. And this amount is about one third – 525 euros – was mainly due to higher food and beverage prices.
In this way, the total amount of expenses in this concept 5,089 euros per household, What is the same thing to 17.1% of all disposable income. a number that means three point increase About the weight of the same component in family budgets in 2019, before the arrival of the coronavirus and other events that caused prices to spiral out of control.
To give you an idea of the extent of the problem, the study’s authors examined the evolution of 674 products registered in the Department of Agriculture’s Food Consumption Panel and validated it to date. 80% of included food and beverages have increased their prices in some cases over 40% sales, as in the case of flour.
But things don’t stay there. For this year, Pateco’s calculations predict that the shopping cart will mean: additional payment of 304 euros, According to inflation forecasts designed by key working cabinets, which, like Funcas, assume that food will rise another 8.7%. Some calculations Includes the effect of VAT reduction from some staple foods. And if the increases in the second half of 2020 and in 2021 are added to this amount, the figure in question is reached to 1,247 euros.
vulnerable families
Although inflation is a problem that affects everyone, the study highlights that households with lower incomes are most affected as it represents a higher percentage of their budget. For example, families whose main source of income is subsidies or benefits unemployment to separate four points more than the average income for food. And when it comes to retirees, the shopping cart also gets two more points from their total income.
The report’s authors remember that food was part of the group. expenses that are considered non-deferrablesuch as housing or health. Therefore, families who already leave a larger portion of their salary at the supermarket are also less margin to forego other types of spending to adjust the budget when food increases.
Therefore, they concluded that the increase in shopping cart price had a particularly intense effect for about a year.n 23.6% of households autonomy – about 480,000 – in a state of poverty or at risk of poverty.
The final part of the study also analyzes the impact of the Shopping Cart Bonus launched by Generalitat, which consists of a 90 Euro card to be spent on core products. According to these estimates, some It will offset 9.1% of food hyperinflation in 2023.
More changes at the electric and gas company
The rise in prices caused a significant increase in the citizens’ decision to change the electricity or gas supply company to control their fixed household expenses. When it comes to electricity, up to 14.5% of customers rolled over contracts last year, five points more than two years ago. In other words, company changes skyrocketed by 51%. When it comes to gas, operator changes affect 11.2% of consumers, 61% more than in 2020, according to the latest data from the National Markets and Competition Commission. One in five people think the process is difficult.