Spaniards spent 16.7% more in the shopping basket in April, according to NielsenIQ

It is the biggest rise since inflation began due to the 7% rise in demand, while prices begin to be contained

MADRID, 29 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Total sales of consumer goods in Spanish shopping baskets in April rose by 16.7%, compared to the same period of the previous year, a figure that exceeds the figures of the historical series since the inflationary period began, according to the latest data published by NIQ.

Specifically, this important increase is mainly motivated by a significant upturn in demand, registering 7% more, when in March a decrease of 5.3% was recorded, while the average price has been contained and thus its rise has been stood at 9.1%, compared to the 15.2% increase that occurred last March.

Regarding the categories, food remains the chapter that involves the most disbursement for Spaniards, with increases in sales in value of 17.7% and 10.3% in average price. Beverages registered an increase in spending of 16.5% and 7.2% in price, while the drugstore and perfumery category registered increases of 13.3% in sales in value and 8% in price.

The report highlights that the three categories achieved significant growth in demand, with increases in volume sales of 6.7% for food, 8.7% for beverages and 4.9% for drugstore and perfumery, mainly motivated by high temperatures and include the data for Easter, but also when comparing it with an April 2022 where there were still stocks in homes, after the collection carried out a month earlier due to the outbreak of the war.

The consultant has specified that this early summer that took place in April and the coincidence with the Easter holidays, caused the demand for the products considered more typical of this season to skyrocket, with significant increases in sales in volume.

In this way, insecticides increased their demand by 58.6%, sun protection by 49.1%, ice cream by 45.5%, horchata by 43.4% or bottled water by 14 %.

Regarding the categories that register a drop in demand, the most prominent is the large consumption parapharmacy, with a decline of 43.6%, which continues to show the end of the use of masks.

On the other hand, consumption outside the home, motivated by the holidays and the good weather, mean that other categories see their volume drop, such as infusions, with 7.1% less; sparkling wines, with a 5.5% drop in demand or alcoholic beverages with a 5% drop.

Among the products that registered the highest price increases compared to a year earlier, are sugar and sweeteners, with 36.8% more, while consumer parapharmacy, which already registered a considerably lower volume, suffers a price rise of 36.8%; baby foods that increase by 23.3% or pasteurized white cheeses, which cost 23.1% more.

On the opposite side, there are categories with decreases in their average price, especially in the drugstore and perfumery section and, thus, facial treatment costs 6.6% less than a year ago, makeup reduces its price by 3 .8% or washing supplements decreased by 2.4%.

Regarding food, the section of other frozen foods, which among other products includes ice, saw its demand increase by 23.2% -due to the early summer effect- despite the fact that its price decreases by 2.7%.

As for pasta, they remained unchanged, with a price drop of 0.1%, while oil, whose price has been contained -0.3% less-, but which nevertheless observes a relevant growth of 31 .9% on the volume purchased.

On the other hand, as of the closing date of the first four-month period and in terms of the difference between brands, sales in value of private label rose 23.2%, compared to the 12% rise of manufacturer brands , while volume sales grew by 11.7% for the former and 1.9% for the latter.

"The unusually high temperatures that were registered in the month of April have caused the behavior of this month to be characterized by earlier purchases traditionally considered as more summery, which has caused a boost in demand, which had been registering in previous months negative volumes", underlined the general director of NIQ for Southern Europe, Patricia Daimiel.

Daimiel has advanced that prices are beginning to be contained. "We see how prices are already beginning to contain, that despite continuing with the upward trend compared to a year ago, they are slowing down 6.1 points compared to the increase registered in March," he indicated.

"In any case, Spanish consumers continue with the objective of saving and among the measures adopted include comparing prices more carefully, looking for options with the best promotions and continuing to be careful when buying to avoid waste," he explained.