Supermarkets raise prices an average of 38% in three years, with olive oil skyrocketing, according to OCU

Mild olive oil is 225% more expensive, followed by white sugar (91%), orange juice (81%) and eggs (67%).

MADRID, 3 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Supermarket prices have risen on average by 38% between December 2020 and December 2023, compared to just over 6% in salaries in that same period, according to the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU). , after analyzing the evolution of 122 consumer food and drug products in seven large chains.

Specifically, the study collects more than 55,000 prices in the online supermarkets of Alcampo, Carrefour, Condis, Dia, El Corte Inglés, Eroski and Mercadona in 10 cities: Barcelona, ​​Gijón, La Coruña, Madrid, Palma, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Seville, Valencia, Valladolid and Zaragoza.

The report shows that not all distribution chains increased their prices to the same extent. Thus, the main increases are observed in Carrefour (45%) and Alcampo (43%), followed by Mercadona (38%), El Corte Inglés (37%), Eroski (34%), Condis (33%) and Dia ( 32%). Prices were not collected from Lidl and Aldi as they did not have an online store.

Among foods, the greatest increases are seen in mild olive oil (225%), white sugar (91%), orange juice (81%), eggs (67%), round rice (66% ) and carrots (65%). They are also significant in other products such as natural yogurt (58%), salmon slices (56%), macaroni (55%), ice cream bars (55%) and whole milk (53%).

While the smallest increases occurred among fruits and vegetables, but even so, they exceeded 20% on average.

The report reveals that most of the increase in prices, at least in fresh products, takes place at origin, in the producers, although it specifies that this does not have to imply that they have greater profits, since they have endured significant increases in costs. in fertilizers and fuels. But there are exceptions: foods such as apples and bananas have experienced greater increases in supermarkets themselves.

In this way, OCU has demanded that the reduced VAT be maintained beyond June and that it be extended to meat and fish, since 50% of families have difficulties acquiring them, according to a survey by the organization.

Likewise, it is considered "essential" to substantially increase the check of 200 euros for families with incomes of less than 27,000 euros, as well as the number of beneficiaries, increasing the income limit.