Food prices will end in 2023 More expensive than 2022, 9% according to November CPI, the last officially known figure so far. Although there are paradigmatic cases, extra virgin olive oilincreased by 66.7% or rice, The shopping cart, which became more expensive by 17.7 percent last year, also includes surprises and products that go against the general trend. they lowered their prices This is in 12 months, according to data managed by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Like this pasta And Bread flours decreased by 0.4%, They saw how the reopening of grain gates in Ukraine, blocked by the war that broke out in Eastern Europe a year ago, allowed the processing industry to recover its activities. However, the most significant decrease was as follows: vegetable oils other than oliveThis increased consumption by almost 125%, causing the retail price to fall by 29.1%.
Beyond official INE data, also wholesale markets And markets They noticed that some products were starting to decline. Although these drops have not yet been transferred to the shopping cart, the prediction is that In the coming weeks They may start to become noticeable (probably after the Christmas season has passed). This is the case for example auberginethis is 67% cheaper than the same month in December 2022; between soft beans platform type, with a decrease of 46.7% or lemonAccording to the data compiled weekly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, this product has become cheaper by 30.9 percent.
The most decreasing fruits and vegetables
. Lemon (-30.9%)
. Granada (-24.4%)
. Tangerine (-6.4%)
. Avocado (-3.6%)
. Banana (-0.7%)
. Eggplant (-67.4%)
. Flat type green beans (46.7%)
. Cucumber (-13.4%)
. Potato (-12.8%)
. Green beans (-6.7%)
. Italian type green pepper (-0.8%)
. Lentils (-0.7%)
“The evolution of fresh food has always been high volatility “It is also common for some products to become more expensive while others decrease in price,” says Pedro Aznar, professor at Esade’s Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting. “The distribution sector is aware of this customer looks for alternatives high rise products and transfer of consumption to other products Of course, it has an impact on prices,” adds Aznar.
What happens with oils is a clear example of this. “Given the strong increase in olive production,” he explains, “people preferred cheaper onesand this led to a rapid increase in the consumption of other vegetable oils.
Most lost meat and fish
. Eggs from cage-raised chickens (-8.8%)
. Veal (cuts from animals 12 to 24 months old) (-7.4%)
. Free range eggs (-2.8%)
. Rabbit (-2.5%)
. Fresh wild sea bream (-57.5%)
. Fresh shrimp (36.8%)
. Wild sea bream (-29%)
. Northern tuna (-23.1%)
. Fresh shrimp (-18.1%)
Reduced VAT has little impact
There are those who may think that the Government’s decision to reduce (or remove) VAT on some foods is behind these price drops. “Actually, this is a limited measure of effect” continues the Esade professor. “The main effect of this was to moderate or moderate price increases. Inside pre-tax products recorded a strong increase; The 4% reduction that abolition of VAT would mean It has become almost unnoticeable “For the consumer,” says Aznar. The anti-crisis measure, which includes the abolition of VAT on basic foods and a 5% discount on oils and pasta, was launched last year and extended until next June.
After it was shown on various fronts that distribution was (at least partially) responsible for the poor consequences of these tax cuts, the Bank of Spain and the National Competitive Market Commission took action to ensure that there were no indicators supporting such criticisms. . Demanding producing sector this includes fish, meat and preserves, agrees with the diagnosis. “There are agricultural products that suffered threefold damage: They had to be affected by rising prices.” production costincrease energy price And if that’s not enough, drought It made crops scarce,” adds the expert.
Fats and nuts that cause weight loss the most
. Refined sunflower oil with high oleic acid (-38.4%)
. Conventional refined sunflower oil (30.5%)
. Refined soybean oil (20.9%)
. Unsalted butter (-13.4%)
. Conventional sunflower seeds (-36.2%)
. Corn in grain (-27.9%)
own dynamics
“There are many products own dynamicssometimes it can escape the control of local manufacturers or distributors,” explains Aznar. Pork. “A few years ago, swine fever caused millions of pigs to be slaughtered in China, which caused the prices of this food to skyrocket, because a significant portion of the production here was being shipped there,” he recalls. And then he adds: “There are other products, no matter how expensive they are. moments of almost compulsory consumption“Like grapes on New Year’s Eve, no matter how expensive they are, people will buy them no matter what… Then maybe they can stop buying them the other days of the year,” he says.