MADRID – Every quarter, ConsumoClaro calculates the price of the shopping basket filled with standard products. The consumer organisation then compares the price for this basket at ten supermarkets.
The outcome forms the basis of the ‘Quarterly Observatory of Basic Purchases’. The main conclusion is that the total price for the shopping basket with standard products has not stopped rising for a year. It is also the first time that no supermarket in the top three cheapest supermarkets can offer the shopping in the basket for less than €70. At two of those three supermarkets, the contents of the basket even cost more than €80 in total.
The cheapest supermarkets in Spain in this regard are now:
- Bonpreu (€70.09)
- Dia (€80.07)
- Alcampo (€80.99)
ConsumoClaro always advises – as long as it is possible and your situation allows it – to go to different supermarkets. The average price in euros/kg varies greatly between the different chains. This is the best way to buy the following product categories:
- Meat: Dia (€9.87)
- Poultry: Carrefour (€4.58)
- Fish: BonArea (€13.50)
- Fruit: Carrefour (€1.94)
- Vegetables: Carrefour (€1.92)
- Legumes and grains: Ulabox (€1.44)
However, these prices do not take into account promotions, discounts, special offers, or coupons.
Despite continuously increasing inflation, the observatorium does not reflect a major increase in total purchase prices, except in two cases which will be discussed later. This is mainly due to the low number of grain-based products in the basic basket, while grain prices have been most affected by the war in Ukraine and inflation.
See also: The most important price increases in May
Legumes are a lot more expensive
The price increase for legumes is particularly striking, specifically that of chickpeas, beans, and lentils (cooked). The average price in September 2021 was around €0.66 per pot. This was already €0.74 in March. However, the increase did not stop there, because the average value of a jar of legumes is now above €0.84. That is 13.5% more in three months.
The average of the total basic purchase exceeds €90 for the first time since March 2021. This means that the supermarket basket has seen its price increase by €20 compared to June 2021.
Method and what is the basic purchase
Two variables are examined in the observatory: The cheapest price (Euro/kg) of each product type examined. The price of the packages of the cheapest product in the online supermarket. The basic purchase has been prepared by the editorial staff of ConsumptionClaro and reflects the standard weekly or monthly purchases as much as possible. The list of products does not include items that are subject to seasonality or products that are not food but are available in the supermarket, such as cosmetics, cleaning, etc.
The basic purchase consists of:
Meat
- tenderloin
- beef burger
- beef tenderloin
- lamb
Poultry
- chicken breast
- turkey breast
- chicken thigh
- box of 6 eggs
Fish
- codfish
- hake fillet
- salmon
- cooked shrimp
- calamari
Fruit
- oranges
- avocado
- apple
- banana
Vegetables
- onion
- roots
- garlic
- tomatoes
- green pepper
- red pepper
- potatoes
- green beans
- lettuce Unit (Iceberg)
Legumes and grains
- chickpea pot
- bean jar
- lentil jar
- rice
Mercadona and Carrefour, the most price rises
In previous surveys of the cheapest supermarkets, there were always options where you could fill the shopping basket for less than €70. However, in the latest survey, the three cheapest supermarkets were;
- Mercadona with €68.04
- Bonpreu with €71.38
- Consum with €72.31
Now the top three look very different and a lot more expensive:
- Bonpreu (€70.09)
- Dia (€80.07)
- Alcampo (€80.99)
This data stands out even more compared to the three cheapest supermarkets in September 2021 before inflation started to pick up. Then there was no basket above €60 euros;
- Mercadona (€53.76)
- Día (€54.56)
- Alcampo (€55.97)
See also: Inflation rises again in Spain in May
Therefore, we can see how on average there is a difference between €20 and €30 more in the cheapest supermarkets. However, two shops stand out: Mercadona and Carrefour.
Mercadona
The price for the basic basket in Spain’s largest supermarket has risen in just three months from €68.04 (one of the cheapest) in March 2022, to €84.32 in June 2022. An increase of almost €20!
See also: Huge price increase at Mercadona for some products
Carrefour
The shopping cart at the Carrefour still cost €87.25 in the last measurement but this currently costs €106.72 for it. The most expensive chains are Hipercor (€113.17), followed by Caprabo (€112.43) and Hipercor (€106.72).
Prices per store section
The three cheapest supermarkets on average in euros/kg are:
Meat
- Dia (€9.87)
- Bon Area (€11.10)
- Carrefour (€11.22)
Poultry
- Carrefour (€4.58)
- Bonpreu (€5.06)
- Dia (€5.31)
Fish
- BonArea (€13.50)
- Bonpreu (€13.51)
- Consumer (€14.43)
Fruit
- Carrefour (€1.94)
- Mercadona (€2.17)
- Dia (€2.37)
Vegetables
- Carrefour (€1.92)
- Conditions (€2.00)
- Bonpreu (€2.10)
Legumes and grains
- Ula box (€1.44)
- BonArea (€1.58)
- Mercadona (€1.64)
Fish and meat still appear to be the most important parts of the basic purchase. Together, these products cover more than half of the total price.
Evolution between March 2022 and June 2022
Most striking is the general price increase. Although there are some cases like Bonpreu’s where the total price of the base purchase has been slightly reduced. Overall, there is an upward trend with a peak in March of €88.22, almost €10 more than in December 2021 (€80.55). In June 2022, the average price of the basic basket was €90.37.
The trend of price increases will continue in the coming months
From the €70.08 that the basket cost a year ago, to €90.37 today. A trend that, unless something drastic changes, will continue in the coming months.
