In ConsumptionClaro we do, every three months, an analysis of the prices of online supermarkets: the Quarterly Basic Purchase Observatory. We gather the information of a total of thirteen food chains from all over the national territory to illustrate how much it costs us to make “the basic purchase” to the Spaniards.
In this way, we can set which chain is cheaper and the evolution of prices in order to facilitate the process for consumers. For a few weeks, inflation seems to be on the rise -accelerated by the European geopolitical map- and many consumers have seen how the price of things has begun to rise.
Not just gasoline, but also food products that we usually buy every week. For this reason, in ConsumptionClaro we have prepared this study on the price of the Basic Purchase established by our experts. Of course, is a general rise in prices materializing?
As indicated by the data collected by ConsumptionClaro, buying is at the highest since March 2021. While a year ago the average did not exceed 71 euros (70.83 euros), today this average rises to 88.22 euros. That is, almost 20 euros more than 12 months ago.
Regarding the last study carried out, in December 2021, the price has risen a total of 8 euros: from 80.55 euros (December 2021) to the current 88.22 (March 2022). We are in front of highest average price of the 6 studies carried out between March 2021 and March 2022, the lowest being June 2021 with an average price of 70.82.
Method and what is the Basic Purchase
The Quarterly Basic Purchase Observatory studies two variables: the price of the cheapest products in each supermarket and the cheapest average price (euros/Kg) of what is offered. In this way, we can obtain an overview of the purchase, always seeking to squeeze the maximum of the budget (we do not take into account offers, promotions, discounts, etc.).
The basic purchase It is a concept established by the editors of ConsumptionClaro that seeks to resemble as much as possible a standard weekly or monthly purchase. Our list of products does not include those that depend on seasonality or those that are not food but are found in a supermarket -cosmetics, cleaning, etc.- or children’s consumption.
Once the above has been explained, the basic purchase consists of:
meats
- Pork loin.
- Beef burger.
- Fillet of beef.
- Mutton.
Birds
- Chicken breast.
- Turkey breast.
- Chicken thigh.
- Carton half a dozen eggs.
Fish*
- Cod.
- Hake fillet.
- Salmon.
- Cooked shrimp.
- Squid.
Fruit
- Oranges.
- Avocado.
- Royal apple.
- Banana banana.
Vegetables
- Onion.
- Carrots.
- Garlic.
- Tomatoes.
- Green pepper.
- Red pepper.
- Potatoes.
- Green beans.
- Lettuce unit (iceberg).
Legumes and cereals
- Chickpea pot.
- Bean pot.
- Lentil pot.
- Rice.
The cheapest supermarkets
Although there has been a large rise in average prices (euros/Kg), the reality is that the three cheapest supermarkets are not particularly high compared to December 2021. While three months ago the total price of the cheapest Basic Purchase was 70.78 euros at Mercadona, this month the same chain repeats with a total price of 68.04 euros.
The podium:
1. Mercadona (68.04 euros).
2. Bonpreu (71.38 euros).
3. Consume (72.31 euros).
The difference, in these cases, does not seem to be very large compared to the three cheapest in December -Mercadona, 70.78 euros; Bonpreu, 71.49 euros; and Alcampo, 72.24 euros-, but the reality is that, compared to November 2021 or March 2021, there is a big rise. Even between December 2021, just three months ago, the price has gone up considerably.
Some examples that reveal it are: Caprabo, the most expensive supermarket, has seen its total price increased by 20 euros -from 97.56 euros to 119.27 euros-; Carrefour has risen more than 10 euros -from 77.82 euros to 87.25 euros-; or Hipercor+ECI which has risen almost 20 euros -from 86.74 euros to 106.41 euros-. All the data of the total price are found in the following graph:
Prices by sections of the purchase
In the previous case, in ConsumptionClaro we collect each one of the cheapest products of each one of the sections of the Basic Purchase. In this way, we have an indicative reflection of what an invoice would be for a bi-weekly purchase for one or two people if, in addition, they chose to buy the cheapest.
For this reason, at the same time, we collect the average values in euros/Kg of each of the sections. This average is the result of the price in euros/Kg of each of the products. We do it this way to counteract the habit of supermarkets of organizing lots with higher prices for some cheaper products and other lots with few units for expensive products.
Although on many occasions we are guided by the net price of the product, without taking into account other values, this does not mean that it is the best quality-price alternative.
The three cheapest supermarkets on average in euros/Kg are:
meats
1 DAY (9.29 euros/Kg)
2. BonArea (9.79 euros/Kg)
3. Mercadona (10.85 euros/Kg)
Birds
1. Carrefour (4.55 euros/Kg)
2. DAY (4.86 euros/Kg)
3. Mercadona and BonArea (5.15 euros/Kg)
Fish
1. Mercadona (9.53 euros/Kg)
2. DAY (13.07 euros/Kg)
3. Camp (13.15 euros/Kg)
Fruit
1. Carrefour (1.94 euros/Kg)
2. Bonpreu (2.06 euros/Kg)
3. DAY (2.18 euros/Kg)
Vegetables
1. Carrefour (2 euros/Kg)
2. Camp (2.18 euros/Kg)
3. Condis (2.21 euros/Kg)
Legumes and cereals
1. Ulabox (1.22 euros/Kg)
2. Bonpreu, Caparbo, BonArea and Eroski (1.61 euros/Kg)
3. Mercadona (1.61 euros/Kg)
As can be seen from the above data, fish continues to be the most expensive section by far with an average price of 14.04 euros/Kg, followed by Meat, which exceeds 12 euros/Kg. This means that the average occupancy between meat and fish far exceeds more than half the average price of the Basic Purchase.
Evolution between March 2021 and March 2022
But the highlight remains that the median purchase price has risen so much not just from March of last year, but from December just three months ago. As can be seen in the following graph, since the first study of 2021 the price has not stopped rising, but it has been now that an important peak is distinguished and, therefore, an increase in the general price.
Regarding the final price of the Basic Purchase, the current average stands at 88.22 euros. A figure higher than that of December 2021 (80.55 euros), and much higher than that of November 2021 (73.11 euros) and that of March 2021 (70.83 euros). According to what our studies seem to indicate, the next analysis (in June 2022) the price will have to reach maximums and approach 100 euros on average.
Conclusions
After the seventh report on the price of the Basic Purchase in a total of 12 supermarkets, it can be seen that we are in a convulsive moment in which the price is not stopping rising. Although the rise of the last month, after the outbreak of the War between Russia and Ukraine, is the one that consumers have noticed the most, the reality is that inflation has been affecting our pockets for a long time.
Despite this, the cheapest supermarket, Mercadona, has seen the total price of the Basic Purchase reduced by 2 euros. In addition, this remains for the fifth consecutive time (10 months) within the Top 3 cheapest supermarkets. On the other hand, Caprabo is still the most expensive establishment.
1. Mercadona (68.04 euros).
2. Bonpreu (71.38 euros).
3. Consume (72.31 euros).
As usual, in ConsumptionClaro we always recommend that -as long as it is possible and our situation allows us- to go to different supermarkets when making the purchase. As we have seen previously, the average price in euros/Kg varies a lot between the different chains. In this way, you should buy each section in:
Meats – DAY (9.29 euros/Kg)
Birds – Carrefour (4.55 euros/Kg)
Fish – Mercadona (9.53 euros/Kg)
Fruit – Carrefour (1.94 euros/Kg)
Vegetables – Carrefour (2 euros/Kg)
Legumes and cereals – ulabox (1.22 euros/Kg)
From ConsumptionClaro we want, once again, to clarify that these values do not take into account: promotions, discounts, offers, vouchers, etc.
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