The price of extra virgin olive oil shoots up to 75% in one month, according to Facua

Four out of ten oils have increased prices in the last month

MADRID, 5 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The price of extra virgin olive oil has skyrocketed by up to 75% in just one month in the same distribution chain, according to the study carried out by Facua-Consumidores en Acción on the evolution of the prices of virgin and extra virgin olive oil. in October.

Specifically, the report reveals that price increases from September to October reached 5.53 euros per liter after comparing the prices of 70 brands in different formats (plastic, glass, can or spray) in eight large retail chains. supermarkets (Mercadona, Dia, Hipercor, Alcampo, Lidl, Aldi, Eroski and Carrefour).

Of the 345 prices of virgin and extra virgin olive oils collected in the study, 126 have become more expensive compared to the price they had at the beginning of September (36.5%), while 39 of them have fallen (11.3 %). The remaining 180 (52%) are sold at the same price as they were sold a month ago.

The three biggest increases that the consumer organization has detected occur in the 5-liter plastic bottle of Carbonell extra virgin that is sold at the beginning of October at Carrefour 74.8% more expensive than a month ago.

This product was on offer at the beginning of September for 36.95 euros, while it currently costs 64.59 euros, which represents an increase of 27.64 euros and an increase of 5.53 euros per liter. In Alcampo, this same bottle is sold for 49.99 euros (6.3% more than a month ago) and in Hipercor for 46.95% (it has risen 6.8%), according to Facua data.

In second place is the 5-liter plastic bottle of extra virgin Picual Fuente Sierra in Alcampo, which went from 23.81 to 39.99 euros, 68% more expensive (16.18 euros of variation that represents an increase of 3.24 euros per liter).

In third place are the 1-liter bottles of Carbonell extra virgin 100% Hojiblanca, Arbequina and Picual at Hipercor, which in September sold them for 9.32 euros and now for 14.50 euros, 55.6% more ( 5.18 euros).

The biggest price difference between the same brand depending on the establishment where it is sold is currently found in the 1-liter plastic bottle of Carbonell 100% Hojiblanca extra virgin. Thus, it ranges from 9.31 euros in Alcampo to 14.50 euros in Hipercor, which represents a difference of 55.7% (5.19 euros/liter).

The second largest variation is in the 5-liter plastic bottle of Maestros extra virgin from Hojiblanca, which is sold for 41.50 euros in Alcampo compared to 64.59 euros at Carrefour, 55.6% more expensive (23. 09 euros difference, which is 4.62 euros per liter). In third place is the 1-liter plastic bottle of Coosur Hojiblanca extra virgin, which is sold for 8.68 euros in Alcampo and for 11.99 euros in Hipercor, 38.1% more (3.31 euros).

By supermarkets, in Hipercor 32 of the 65 oils contemplated in this study have become more expensive, 49.2%, while in Carrefour 28 of the 59 products analyzed cost more than a month ago (47.4%) and in Eroski, 27 of the 67 oils in the sample (40.2%).

While on the opposite side are Mercadona and Lidl. Today, both chains maintain the same price for their olive oils compared to what they had at the beginning of September. In Dia and Aldi, for their part, only the increase in price of one product has been recorded over a sample of 22 and six prices, respectively.

In this way, Facua plans to send this data to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in an expansion of the complaints presented last month, in which it requests the Department led by Alberto Garzón to open an investigation into the increases in profit margins that are presumably being carried out. producing both in olive oil and in the rest of the foods affected by the VAT reduction.

The consumer organization has also once again requested the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to carry out greater control of the production chain and investigate whether there is speculation on the part of large distribution chains or other intermediaries when applying profit margins on these products.