Lorraine Williamson
Spanish shoppers are feeling the strain as food bills rise faster than wages. New figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) show a sharp jump in supermarket prices during the first eight months of 2025.
The findings underline a deeper trend: while a few products have eased, most everyday groceries now cost markedly more than they did a year ago.
Staples under pressure
Household essentials are leading the surge. Coffee has leapt nearly 18% since January, eggs are up more than 15%, and chocolate prices have climbed into double digits. Beef and lamb show similar hikes, while nuts, frozen fish, whole milk, and tinned produce have all crept higher. The pattern reflects a combination of global shortages and rising transport costs rather than a single domestic issue.
Climate and global markets drive the spike
Extreme weather in coffee-growing regions, including droughts and unexpected frosts, has cut harvests. At the same time, geopolitical tensions have disrupted shipping lanes and pushed up freight charges. Rapidly growing demand from emerging markets such as China adds further pressure, particularly on coffee and cocoa. Analysts warn that these overlapping factors make price corrections unpredictable.
Islands of relief in a sea of increases
Amid the general rise, a handful of products have eased back. Olive oil—after record highs in 2024—has fallen by more than a third this year thanks to improved harvests. Fresh fish and sugar are each down around 6%, while pasta, pizza, and yoghurt show small declines. These reductions provide some breathing space but do little to balance the broader inflationary tide.
Food prices fall for producers but not shoppers
Outlook: no quick fix for food inflation
Economists caution that Spain’s food market will remain volatile as climate change alters harvest patterns and conflicts unsettle global trade. For households, that means continued belt-tightening and careful budgeting well into 2026, despite occasional price dips. Families on limited incomes are likely to feel the pinch most acutely as they navigate a supermarket landscape where bargains are becoming increasingly rare.
Source: Europa Press