Prices for basic groceries jumped 15% in six months

The prices of basic groceries increased 15 percent in six months, the Consumentenbond reported after inventorying the prices of over 100 essential products at 14 supermarket chains. According to the consumers’ association, the worst price increases seem to be behind us, and some prices are already falling.

Sugar (+78%), cauliflower (+54%), and bread (+43% for six brown buns), in particular, became significantly more expensive. Prices increased the most in December 2022 and January 2023, with supermarkets increasing the prices of an average of 150 products per day.

From February, there were fewer price increases and even some decreases. “For example, the price of a liter of sunflower oil rose from €1.99 to €3.99 last year before falling again to €3.09,” the Consumentenbond said. Albert Heijn and Plus’s home brand butter rose from €2.65 to €3.19 and then fell to €2.89.

For the price survey, the consumer association looked at the prices of over 100 basic groceries like rice, coffee, milk, butter, and potatoes. They looked first at the budget brand and, if those weren’t available, at the house brand.

Dirk was again the cheapest supermarket for basic groceries in the Netherlands. “Consumers here pay an average of 11 percent less for basic products than the average of all supermarkets.” Spar is the most expensive, with basic products costing 20 percent more than average.