Never in recent history has it been so expensive for Spanish families to feed themselves. Since the pre-Covid era, the cost of the average shopping basket has skyrocketed by a dramatic 38.5%, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Staple foods such as bread, meat, eggs, legumes, fruit, and fish have reached record prices, leaving a significant dent in household budgets.
The New Reality at the Supermarket: Less for More Money
What once was enough for a week’s worth of groceries for a family now barely fills a single shopping bag. A purchase that used to be covered by €50 now requires significantly more. This development is the result of cumulative inflation, which has raised the general price level by 22.3% since 2019. However, the real driver of this price surge is food. In the last year alone, the prices of individual products have exploded:
- Chocolate: +21.6%
- Eggs: +18.3%
- Beef: +15.1%
- Lamb: +11.7%
The situation for fresh produce is no better. Prices for fruit increased by 8.8%, vegetables by 8.4%, and fish by 6.2%. These increases far exceed any wage adjustments, leading to a noticeable loss of purchasing power.
Additional Burdens: Electricity Prices and Government Policy
Adding to the crushing weight of food prices is the relentless rise in electricity costs, which jumped by 17.3% in July alone. This pushed the overall inflation rate to 2.7% – the highest level since February.
The government dealt another significant blow to consumers in January when it reversed the VAT reduction on certain basic foods, which had been introduced to mitigate the crisis. The result: an additional €853 million collected by the state in just six months – directly from the pockets of Spanish citizens. Everyday items like bread, milk, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and legumes were subjected to higher taxes, driving up their final prices even further.
Grim Forecast: No Relief in Sight
Experts from the Bank of Spain urgently warn that food prices will remain high in the medium term. They cite climatic factors, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and restrictive trade policies as the main causes. Global organizations like the FAO and the World Bank also confirm this risk. The scenario of persistent food inflation will hit low-income families the hardest.
These households, which already spend a disproportionately large part of their budget on food, are being forced to cut back on other essential expenses. The fatal consequences are an accelerated loss of purchasing power, growing social inequality, and a silent but devastating blow to food security across the country.
