According to Executive Digest, the basket of 63 essential goods monitored by DECO PROTESTE, fell for the second consecutive week, and cost this Wednesday 233.46 euros.

It is a decrease of almost five euros (4.67 euros, -1.96%), and the basket thus reaches the lowest value this year and is close to the values recorded at the end of December 2023 (230 euros).

However, if we compare the same set of products with the price seen exactly two years ago, before the war in Ukraine, the increase is practically 50 euros (49.89,), 27.14% more.

According to the analysis, comparing prices of 6 March with those of February 23, 2022, it can be seen that the following products were the most expensive: extra virgin olive oil (132%), onions (84%), oranges (67%), horse mackerel (64%), carolino rice (60%), fresh hake (60%), white sugar (57%), salmon (57%), red potatoes (53%) and frankfurt sausages (51%).

The price of oranges soar

Looking only at the last week, between February 28 and 6 March, the products that had risen the most in price were the following: oranges (10%), frankfurt sausages (7%), spaghetti (6%), pork chops (5%), horse mackerel (4%), eggs (4%), salmon (4%), biscuits (4%), cooking oil (3%), rice (3%).

Zero VAT basket also decreased in the last week

The defined basket of essential products to which the zero VAT measure was applied (which ended on January 4), decreased in price last week.

According to an analysis by Deco/Proteste of the set of 41 products, the zero VAT basket fell by 3.21 euros in the last week (-2.22%), now costing 141.67 euros, the lowest value recorded this year.

Compared to the last day of zero VAT and until 6 March, there is a reduction of 0.30 euros (-0.21%) in the price of the basket. Compared to the beginning of the year, there is a price reduction of 1.61 euros (-1.12%).

According to the analysis, there are products that have risen well above the 6% VAT (or 13% in the case of cooking oil) that have been reapplied. For example, compared to the last day in which the measures were in force, horse mackerel increased in price by 26%, cooking oil by 20%, onions by 12%, tuna put in olive oil by 10%, milk and rice by 8%.