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In Spain, households faced a broad rise in everyday food prices last year, adjusting consumption toward less fat and more affordable fruits while footing higher costs for meat, eggs, and other staples. New data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) show that overall spending on food and beverages rose even as some items fell in use. In November, volumes bought were 0.4% above the same month in 2022, while the average price climbed about 7%, pushing total expenditure up by roughly 7.4%. The changes were uneven: fat consumption dropped sharply, by nearly 15% year over year, with bread and fresh fruits also declining, while meat and alcoholic beverages rose strongly. Eggs increased by over 6%, reflecting shifting preferences within protein sources.
MAPA’s report notes a notable rise in meat demand, alongside higher intake of fresh and frozen meat as consumers pivot away from more heavily processed options. November also proved favorable for the fishing sector, with a 3.6% uptick in purchases of seafood, covering all segments of the market.
On the flip side, olive oil consumption plummeted, with a large drop in liters due to price pressures. In contrast, sunflower oil saw a value increase of about 21%.
MAPA’s analysis indicates that meat demand continued to drive overall food purchases, while some processed meat options saw a softening trend. The fishing industry also benefited from higher purchase volumes in November, suggesting steadier demand across seafood categories.
The report highlights that olive oil suffered a sharp decline as prices rose, with a notable loss of consumption in liters. By contrast, sunflower oil increased in value. This divergence mirrors broader shifts in household oil choices amid price volatility.
Price increase
Looking at the year up to November, families reduced overall food and beverage purchases for home consumption by around 1.5%. The market itself grew by nearly 9%, while the average price rose by 10.6%.
In meat, purchase volumes rose by about 4.3%, and eggs climbed roughly 7.7% compared with the previous year. Yet, fishery product purchases contracted by about 4%, reflecting weaker demand across all segments.
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Towards the end of the moving year in November, households bought 3.4% less liquid milk and dairy products, and also reduced purchases of bread by 1.7%, sugar by 1.9%, and legumes by 1.9%. Oil intake declined by 4.9%, driven largely by a 15.1% drop in olive oil volume, while the trend of shrinking fresh produce persisted, with fresh fruits down around 2.6%.
The MAPA analysis suggests the beverage segment did not show a strong rebound. Demand for wine and its derivatives remained weak, with a 5.4% contraction, and overall alcoholic beverages fell by about 3.7%. Soft drinks also slipped by roughly 2.5%, though bottled water consumption edged down slightly by 0.6% as households adjusted to changing prices and preferences.
Data from MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) underline how price shifts influence shopping baskets. Families reacted by moderating some staples and elevating others, with meat and certain beverages increasing in share as everyday goods became more expensive. The overall picture shows a mixed bag: some products, particularly those tied to nutrition and daily use, softened; others rose in price or volume as households adapted to inflation and available substitutes.
MAPA report, latest household food consumption data.