In Barcelona, a bakery clerk notes that while most bread and staple foods have seen price adjustments, the overall effect is modest. Essentials such as bread, bread flour, milk, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, pulses, potatoes, and cereals have benefited from VAT changes, with rates dropping from 4% to 0% on many items. A one-euro loaf now carries savings of about four cents, and fats like oils as well as pasta enjoy a reduction from 10% to 5%. The baker observes that while people commonly fear rising costs, there is little chatter about genuine price relief so far. [Cited: local trade coverage]
Across the market, shoppers are watching how quickly prices respond, with many predicting adjustments will become visible in the coming days. Supermarket chains have already begun re-stocking shelves with lower prices for affected goods. Inside Mercadona, thick noodles slipped from 0.80 euros to 0.76 euros, Gouda cheese from 2.45 to 2.36 euros, and six-brick packs of whole milk from 5.70 to 5.48 euros. Other staples like potato fillets, onions, apples, and tangerines also showed noticeable decreases, though some discounts appeared only in limited lines. [Cited: consumer price reports]
At the Bonpreu chain, refined sunflower oil dropped from 2.40 euros on Friday to 2.29 euros on Monday, while olives edged down from 5 to 4.79 euros. Eggs, which traded at 2.10 euros on Friday, moved to 2.00 euros by Monday. An industry worker notes the discounts are sometimes just a few cents, usually not more than 5, 10, or 30 cents. He points to consumer confusion as a key hurdle, with milk showing relief while dairy alternatives like soy milk often remain at the same price, prompting complaints. [Cited: market interviews]
At Ninot market, where a greengrocer handles VAT adjustments, the transition appears to be a gradual one. The clerk explains that a 4% VAT on all products translates into cents of savings that many customers do not perceive clearly. A typical 25-euro purchase now ends up closer to 24 euros after the tax adjustment, which creates a sense of disbelief among shoppers. Some admit they will wait to see if prices decline further on one side before they expect relief on another. The grocer notes that the main change will come from a 10% VAT reduction on meat and fish, both essential foods for many households. The clerk predicts that government revenue adjustments will eventually normalize, and the price landscape will settle into a steadier pattern. [Cited: field observations]