The Organization of consumers and users (TO FATHER) has warned this Monday that the rise in energy costs it is already being noticed in the food price. According to the organization’s data, the CPI is rising above expectations in hospitality (2.5%) and food (3%), and especially in basic products that accumulate significant price increases so far this year, such as fresh fruit (13.6%), eggs (4.5%), poultry (2.9%), milk (2.8%) and fresh legumes and vegetables (2.8 %). Some of these increases have little justification, since the correlation between energy prices and the selling price of fruit is not very direct, for example. Sources in the distribution sector and manufacturers consider that the rise in prices cannot be generalized given the high level of competition in the distribution sector, but tensions exist.
The progressive increases in the price of electricity, butane and fuel continue to translate into a significant increase in the CPI so far this year 2021, especially in transport (10.8%) and housing (18, 1%), as just published by the National Institute of Statistics in the disaggregated data for October.
The OCU highlights the increase in the prices of hotels, cafes and restaurants: from January to August its CPI has increased by 2.5%, and that in the case of food the rise has been 1.3% last month . The arrival of Christmas indicates that the increases, justified or not, will become more acute in the final stretch of the year.
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According to the OCU, only three products have not increased their prices in October: potatoes, pork and dairy products. The increases have not affected equally in all areas of Spain. Among those that have suffered the most from the price increase are Castilla-La Mancha (6.1%), Extremadura (5.9%), Aragon (5.6%) and Castilla y León (5.6%). While it has been felt a little less in the Canary Islands (4.2%) and Catalonia (4.5%). One of the causes of these disparities is the different level of competition between distribution chains in the autonomous communities. The lower rise in Catalonia could respond to these causes.
The OCU recommends purchasing seasonal products and prioritizing the cheapest supermarkets. By choosing the place where the purchase is made well, very relevant savings can be obtained: about 1,073 euros a year on average (more than 3,500 euros in some cities).
Reference-www.elperiodico.com