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Spain’s Grocery Basket Enters 2026 With Uneven Prices and a VAT Debate

Analysts say price stability looks unlikely due to livestock outbreaks, with commodity markets still volatile.

Overview

  • Food prices in Spain rose 2.5% between January and November 2025, below the 3% general CPI, with Catalonia at 2.4%.
  • Only seven of the 50 INE-tracked food groups were cheaper year over year, led by olive oil, which fell 38.1% through November, with declines also in sugar, potatoes, pasta and yogurt.
  • Eggs cost about 30% more than a year ago and beef is roughly 18% pricier than in January after disease outbreaks forced culls and tightened supply.
  • Coffee and cocoa prices climbed about 17% and 12.4% respectively in 2025, keeping input costs for manufacturers uncertain heading into the new year.
  • The opposition PP proposes cutting VAT on fresh fish, eggs and meat, while retailers project growth in 2026 as shoppers make smaller baskets but visit stores more often.