A Alicante Food Inflation Snapshot Reflects Strain on Households
Although relief is modest, it does not fully ease the burden on most homes. Food prices in Alicante rose again last April, with a 12.6% year-over-year increase, a figure that marks the first meaningful dip in this indicator in over a year but remains far from reassuring. Consumer groups continue to warn that the shopping cart is swelling and demand stronger policy action to help the pockets of the most vulnerable families.
Even as this moderation appears, general price inflation still climbs. The overall consumer price index rose by more than one point in the latest month, with food inflation in Alicante standing at 4.3% for the month, ahead of the national average by a couple of tenths. This places the province slightly above the national pace, underscoring a broad inflationary environment that affects daily life beyond groceries.
The CPI uptick is tempered by slower gains in some sectors, yet several categories still push costs higher. Housing maintenance and services rose around 8.4%, while cars increased by about 8.5% and hotels by 9.4%, reflecting ongoing pressures in accommodations and mobility. Sectors tied to daily use, including hospitality and personal care establishments, show price increases around 6–7% year over year, signaling a pervasive rise in everyday expenses.
In contrast, transportation services remained in decline, with prices slipping about 10.4%, helped by lower fuel costs and passenger subsidies. Telecommunication services also softened, with prices about 6.4% cheaper than a year earlier.
In any case, the shopping cart dominates a large portion of fixed household expenditure. For Alicante, food inflation measured 12.6% in the latest data, compared with 16.6% in March. The national average fell slightly from 16.5% to around 12.9%, but consumer associations emphasize that wages have not kept pace. Contractual salary increases in the province averaged only about 2.84% up to April, translating into a real loss of purchasing power for most families.
Officials and consumer advocates warn that the malaise could deepen local economies already struggling. They argue that the modest relief should not be mistaken for a solution and call for continued measures such as VAT reductions to goods essential for households. The Valencian Consumers and Users Association, led by Fernando Moner, stresses the need to preserve and even expand support for families, including subsidies on mortgage costs for those facing difficulties. They also advocate extending exemptions or discounts on VAT for staple meats and fish, where possible, to alleviate daily budget pressure.
Vincent England, the general secretary of the Valencian Community Consumers’ Union, argues for more targeted assistance for families struggling with daily purchases, in line with broader efforts to keep basic goods affordable. He also supports extending the VAT discount on meat and fish, a measure that remains under debate as prices continue to rise for households that count every euro.
Last April marked another surge in food costs within the most inflationary categories. Sugar soared by 43.4% year over year; milk by 27.4%; potatoes by 19.5%; cereals and their derivatives by 16.3%; and pork by 15.5%, illustrating the breadth of price increases across staples.
Over the past year, food prices have climbed in double digits, a trend linked to the inflationary shock unleashed by the Ukraine conflict. Although increases started modestly in late 2021, they accelerated sharply in April of the previous year, reaching a peak around 16.9% in the province. After a softening in spring, prices remained elevated, with a decline to 12.8% observed last April, signaling some stabilization but not relief from core pressures.
Overall, households continue to feel the impact of higher food costs as they balance daily purchases with limited wage growth. The data underline the urgency for policies that can cushion families against persistent inflation, including targeted subsidies, price relief measures, and ongoing vigilance on the affordability of essential goods.