The essential food basket rose another 0,86% than seven days ago, this is the consecutive third week of increase in prices, with more than a four euro increase.

Since the beginning of the year, there has been a rise of 4.11 euros (3.8%) and since the entry into force of measure, it has been reduced by 99 cents (-0.71%).

However, not all products covered by the measure are cheaper. Among the products that have become more expensive since the 18 of April are: broccoli (58%), oranges (51%), extra virgin olive oil (29%), fresh fish (18%) and cauliflower (16%).

Spiral pasta soars 18%: find out who are the ‘champions’ of increases this week

In the last week, between the 1 and 8 of November, the following products recorded the highest percentage increase in the zero VAT basket monitored by DECO PROTeste: spiral pasta (18%), horse mackerel (15%), zucchini (9%), packaged sliced cheese (8%), curly lettuce and liquid yogurt (7%), rice (6%), oranges (4%) and sea bream and gala apples (3%).

Turkey leg and bread lead declines in the last week

According to the analysis of Deco-PROTeste, the 10 products that reduced the most in price last week were turkey leg (7.12%), crustless bread (4.52%), aromatized yogurt (3.29%), fresh fish (3.15%), tomatoes (3.11%), whole chicken (2.89%), deep frozen peas (2.63%), needle rice (2.27%), packaged sliced flamengo cheese (1.96%) and pork steaks (1.84%).

It was noted that the VAT exemption on more than 40 foods is the result of an agreement signed on 27 March between the government, food retail and agri-food production.

The measure intends to mitigate the effects of the increases of price for food and is in full force until the end of the year, after being extended by the Government on the 7 September (the end of the measure was scheduled for the 31 October).

The list of products that now have zero VAT was defined by the recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health. It includes the foods most consumed by Portuguese families, according to information provided by the association that represents food distribution companies.

The price of the ‘normal’ basket also rose: 3.23 euros more

The price of the basket of 63 essential goods that were monitored by DECO PROTeste, increased in price by 2.74 euros last week and is rising again this week. It now costs 228,09 euros, another 3,23 more than the previous week.

By comparing this value with the same period last year, the price of the basket increased by 18.61 euros (8.88% more).

In the last week, the 10 products with the highest percentage increases were spiral pasta (18%), horse mackerel (15%), black scabbard fish (11%), zucchini (9%), sea bass, cabbage and cured cheese (all with 8%) and curly lettuce, strawberry liquid yogurt and ham by 7%.

Between the 27 of February of 2022, the eve of the start of the war in Ukraine, and November 8 of this year, the products that saw their price rise the most were virgin olive oil (109%), oranges (94%), Carolino rice (89%), fresh fish (79%), tomato pulp (73%), onions (70%), white sugar (59%), Frankfurt sausages (56%), broccoli and red potatoes (both 50%).

Looking at product categories, the largest percentage increases since the beginning of the war were recorded in the market (34.08%, €14.37 more), and fruit and vegetables (23.63%, another €5.58).