Overview
- Fresh products rose 6.7% year on year, with fruits and vegetables up 8.2%, meats 7% and fish 3.4%, while packaged foods increased 0.8%.
- Price dispersion is stark: the average saving from choosing the cheapest outlet is €1,132 per household, reaching €4,270 in Madrid and near €2,000 in cities like Las Palmas, León, Gijón and Vigo.
- Alcampo hypermarkets in Bonaire (Valencia) and Coia (Vigo) are the cheapest establishments; the lowest‑price chains are Dani, Alcampo, Tifer and Family Cash, while Sánchez Romero, Supercor and Sorli are the most expensive.
- Specific items saw sharp moves, with coffee up 54.1%, bananas 35.9%, lemons 33% and eggs 29.8%, while mild olive oil fell 53%, sugar 25.7% and orange juice 23.7%.
- The audit spans 106,320 prices across 718 outlets in 183 localities using a 241‑product basket, and OCU urges extending VAT cuts on basic foods and targeted purchase aid for vulnerable households.