Statistical Trends in Food Prices Across Spanish Regions (INE 2023)

It counts as one of the 23 food and beverage groups that INE uses in its statistical breakdown. In 2023, the Canary Islands experienced the largest increase among the groups, rising by more than a third, while the smallest changes were more scattered; Aragon and Murcia led with five and four point movements respectively.

The five biggest nationwide increases, which INE terms as the headline movements, were oils and fats (36.3%), legumes and fresh vegetables (13.2%), pork (12.3%), fresh fruits (11.8%), and mutton (9.7%).

Oils and fats surged most in Madrid but climbed less in Cantabria; legumes became more expensive in the Canary Islands and cheaper in Cantabria; pork prices rose more in Aragon and less in Galicia; fresh fruits rose across the Atlantic archipelago more than in the Mediterranean, and mutton became more prevalent in Extremadura while it declined in Asturias.

Top risers

The cost of oils and fats, the category most influenced by rising food prices, reached 39.7% in Madrid, 39.1% in La Rioja, 38.9% in Extremadura, 38.4% in Catalonia, and 37% in Andalusia. In Cantabria the increase was 25.1%, in the Basque Country 30.4%, and in the Canary Islands 33.1%.

Fresh legumes and vegetables also rose across Spain. In the Canary Islands the increase was 25.3%, in Murcia 17.2%, in the Balearic Islands 16.6%, and in Andalusia 15.2%, with those gains staying under one third in Atlantic regions. Cantabria reported 7.9%, the Basque Country 8.0%, and Aragon 8.4%.

In Asturias, meat prices rose more than beef at 11.8%; sheep meat rose in Extremadura at 13.6% and in the Valencian Community at 13.5%; pork rose in Aragon at 17.5%, in Murcia 16.9%, and in Navarra 16.0%; poultry prices increased in Castilla-La Mancha 3.5%, in Asturias 3.2%, and in Catalonia 3.2% as well.

Conversely, beef prices fell in Murcia by 0.8%; sheep prices declined in Asturias by 1.8% and in the Balearic Islands by 1.3%; and poultry prices dropped in Galicia by 2.6%.

Fresh fruits rose in every region, with gains as high as 16.4% in the Canary Islands, 15.2% in the Valencian Community, and between 14% and 14.7% in Cantabria, La Rioja, and the Basque Country. The Balearic Islands posted a 6.5% increase, while the Archipelago around Aragon also showed notable growth.

Most resistant to climbing

Milk stood out as the only product with a price decrease in most regions last year, averaging a 1.3% dip, led by Murcia with a 2.15% drop, the Basque Country with 2.2%, and Madrid and Andalusia at 2.1%. It did rise elsewhere, notably in the Canary Islands by 3.0%, in Navarra by 1.3%, and in Galicia by 0.8%.

Dairy price growth in the Canary Islands reached 7.2%, ahead of the Balearic Islands at 5.9%, while the Basque Country, Murcia, and Galicia reported declines of 1.7%, 1.0%, and 0.6% respectively.

Egg prices climbed more than twice the average, at 4.4% nationally, with the Canary Islands seeing a 10.7% surge and Cantabria and Madrid showing 8.0% and 7.6% respectively. Extremadura registered a 0.5% increase.

Cereals and their derivatives rose the most in the Canary Islands at 7.1%, more than double the growth in Aragon at 3.2% or in Asturias and Extremadura at 3.5%. Bread prices advanced in Murcia by 4.1%, fell in Extremadura by 0.2%, remained stable in Navarra at 0.0% and in Aragon at 0.3%, and rose slightly in the Basque Country and Asturias at 0.5% and 0.6% respectively.

Fresh or frozen fish grew in price in four northern peninsular regions, with two coastal areas showing notable increases: 6.4% in the Basque Country, 5.7% in Navarra, and 5.4% in La Rioja; Cantabria reached 5.1%, while inland regions Madrid and Castilla y León reported 3.3% each, similar to Andalusia.

However, Madrid led the rise in crustacean, mollusk, and fish preparations at 6.6%, just ahead of Cantabria at 6.3%, compared with Navarra at 3.1% and the Canary Islands at 3.2%.

Potatoes and preparations rose by 18.2% in the Canary Islands, three times the average of 6.8%, and exceeded 10% in La Rioja and Navarra, but only 2.7% in Valencia. The region overall saw declines of less than 5% in Asturias, the Balearic Islands, and the Basque Country, with a 2.7% drop in Murcia.

Other items with relatively smaller increases included coffee, cocoa, and infusions at 6.0% and sugar at 6.2%, with the highest rates recorded in the Balearic Islands. The lowest rates were in Aragon, around 3.9% for coffee and 2.3% for sugar. Beverages such as mineral water, soft drinks, and juices rose by up to 13% in La Rioja and between 11% and 12% in Galicia, the Balearic Islands, and Madrid, with smaller rises in Cantabria 5.0%, Aragon 5.5%, Asturias 6.6%, and Catalonia 6.8%.

Alcoholic beverages showed the least variation, though Murcia still registered a 6.6% increase, about twice Galicia’s 3.3% rise.

It should be noted that other meat varieties, preserved fruits and nuts, legumes and vegetable preparations, and other food preparations within the 23 INE categories are not included in this information. The data reflect regional variations and overall national trends observed in the period analyzed.