From broccoli to mackerel, these are the top gainers and losers in price over the past week – Executive Summary

After an increase of 0.81 euros last week, the basket of 41 foodstuffs without VAT monitored by DECO PROTESTE has decreased again … but very slightly. This Wednesday, it cost €0.22 less than last week: it fell from €127.97 to €127.75 (a decrease of 0.17%). Since the VAT exemption came into effect, the price of this basket of products has decreased by €11.02 (7.94% lower). Since the beginning of the year, the cost has decreased by €5.92 (4.43%).

But not all products covered by this measure are cheaper. For example, the price of oranges increased by €0.55 (+40%) between the day before the measure was applied, April 17th and August 30th. Broccoli increased by 0.68 euros, an increase of 28%.

Bacon slices, mackerel and spiral pasta are among the products that saw the biggest increase this week

In the past week, between August 23 and 30, the following products recorded the highest increase in the VAT zero basket detected by DECO PROTESTE: canned sliced ​​cheese (9%), horse mackerel (8%), pasta spirals and needle rice (5%) ), carrots (4%), spaghetti pasta, onions, veal and apples (3%) and boneless ham (2%).

Peas, apples, and long-grain rice lead the decline

According to an analysis by Deco/Proteste, the 10 products that fell the most in the past week are broccoli (6%), cauliflower and fresh hake (5%), red potatoes, crisp lettuce and zucchini (4%), and tchocha. Tomatoes, turkey ham, turkey leg and salted butter (3%).

And we must remember that the exemption from value-added tax on more than 40 food products is the result of an agreement signed on March 27 between the government, food retail and agri-food production. This measure aims to mitigate the effects of increases in food prices and is valid until October 31.

The list of products that are now free of value-added tax was determined based on the recommendations of the General Directorate of Health, and it includes the foods most consumed by households in Portugal, according to information provided by the association representing food distribution companies.

The price of the “normal” basket has also fallen: 1 cent
The price of a basket of 63 commodities monitored by DECO PROTESTE, which rose last week by more than 2 euros, fell by just 1 cent last week. It now costs €211.93, the same price as last week (0.0% change).

If we compare this figure with the same period last year, the price of the basket decreased by 5.54 euros (2.68% lower).

Last week, the 10 products with the highest percentage increases were perch (16%), processed cheese (9%), turkey breast slices, flakes and mackerel (8%), and roasted ground coffee (5%). Long grain rice, spiral pasta, tomato sauce (4%), carrots (3%).

Between February 23, 2022, the eve of the war in Ukraine, and August 30 this year, the products that saw their prices rise the most were oranges (79%), Carolino rice (75%), and tomato pulp. 57%), onions and white sugar (53%), fresh hake (52%), cereal flakes (and Frankfurt sausage (50%), extra virgin olive oil (46%) and Maria biscuits (41%).

Looking at product categories, the largest increases since the beginning of the war were recorded in groceries (23.63%, over €9.96) and meat (18.62%, over €6.00).