Prices in supermarkets have increased by 5.9% on average in one year, Test Achats said in a press release on Wednesday. The consumer defense organization analyzed more than 3,000 products from the Albert Heijn, Carrefour, Colruyt, Cora, Delhaize, Aldi and Lidl chains. Result: the prices of certain products have exploded.
Tomatoes have become on average 31.5% more expensive compared to April of last year, spaghetti 30.5% and frying oil 26.2%, specifies Test Achats. The consumer organization also noted substantial increases (+20% on average) for paper products such as toilet paper, kitchen paper rolls and paper handkerchiefs. Other double-digit price increases: ground coffee (+18.6%), mayonnaise (+12.2%), olive oil (+11.1%) and mustard (+10.5) %).
This is a new blow to the wallets of many households
Dairy products are now on average 7.7% more expensive than last year.
Butter in particular (spreadable butter, dairy butter and herb butter) saw its price continue to increase (+17.9%). Among vegetables, on average 8.3% more expensive, the increase reached 10.8% for cucumbers and 9.6% for potatoes. Fruit meanwhile became on average 1.9% cheaper compared to last year. This is the case for oranges, mangoes, lemons and blueberries.
“A couple who spent an average of 390 euros per month at the supermarket last year will now spend 413 euros on the same shopping cart”, underlines the organization’s spokesperson, Julie Frère. “In a context of soaring energy prices, this is another blow to the wallets of many households.”
In addition, some empty spaces appear here and there on supermarket shelves, notes Test Achats. This can force households to turn to more expensive alternatives, we lament.
