In Spain, what families buy for meals mirrors broader changes in household budgets. Olive oil, a staple on many tables, has pulled back sharply as prices for essential foods rose, even though some relief came from value-added tax adjustments. The latest numbers show olive oil use dropping by more than 34 percent in a single year, while sunflower oil gained popularity and climbed by about 21 percent as shoppers sought more affordable options. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food tracks home consumption and purchasing patterns, noting that overall volumes stabilized around November with a small 0.4 percent year-on-year rise, even as average prices climbed by roughly 7 percent and total expenditure increased by about 7.4 percent. These shifts reflect how households recalibrate purchases amid rising costs, prioritizing staples that offer immediate budget relief.
Beyond olive oil, bread purchases fell by around 3.1 percent and fresh fruit by about 2.2 percent through November 2023, the latest month with complete data. Yet meat showed resilience, increasing by roughly 10.3 percent, and eggs rose about 6.3 percent. Within the meat category, chicken led growth with an increase near 16.75 percent, followed by pork with roughly a 14.44 percent gain, and veal climbing about 4.2 percent. Lamb, by contrast, moved downward, posting a sizable 28.62 percent decline in line with recent market dynamics. These shifts illustrate how price pressures and supply conditions steer consumer choices across animal proteins.
Industry voices attribute these movements to changing costs of inputs. A Mercabarna wholesale trader and member of the Catalan Academy of Gastronomy and Nutrition notes that lower grain prices have helped chicken and other poultry production normalize, making these meats more affordable for retailers and households. Pork and beef benefited from a steady grain supply from Ukraine, which helped keep feed costs in check. Lamb remains comparatively expensive due to its reliance on open grazing and the persistent drought conditions that limit pasture availability. This point is echoed by Mercabarna’s meat industry spokesperson, who emphasizes how grazing patterns and water access continue to shape price dynamics in the sector.
Fresh fruit kept losing ground in the shopping basket through November. Comparative data show that while bananas and kiwis rose in consumption, they did not fully offset declines in oranges, tangerines, apples, and pears. Over the year, fruit consumption slid by about 2.24 percent even as prices stayed relatively stable. Fresh vegetables bumped up slightly, with purchases increasing around 3.65 percent. A contributing factor cited by analysts is reduced domestic production driven by drought and irrigation restrictions, underscoring how climate conditions can ripple through daily groceries as producers adjust to water limits and weather variability.
Milk and dairy products also posted ongoing declines, with milk consumption down roughly 1.13 percent and dairy derivatives like yogurt down about 0.98 percent between November 2022 and November 2023. In contrast, sugar consumption rose by about 3.34 percent even amid high global prices, reflecting household substitutions toward items that provide sweetness at a lower relative cost. Taken together, these shifts highlight the broader pressures on family food budgets and how households reallocate spending toward more affordable staples when costs rise and incomes lag behind price increases.