Another Price Shock for Cheap Products: What Costs More Now

Coffee, chocolate, tea butter, orange juice - prices rose by up to 72 percent depending on the product within a year. A current AK price monitor of the 40 cheapest food and some cleaning products at seven supermarkets and discounters in March shows: The cheapest food items have increased in price by an average of ten percent compared to the previous year.

Consumers have to dig deeper into their wallets than ever before for shopping. A shopping basket with 40 cheapest food and cleaning products cost almost 81 euros in March 2025 - in March 2024 it was still 73.27 euros. That's an increase of 10.1 percent!

This is how much more coffee, chocolate, orange juice & co. cost now compared to the previous year

Product price increase since March 2024 (rounded):
Bean coffee + 72 %
Orange juice + 45 %
Whole milk chocolate + 33 %
Tea butter + 36 %
Table apples + 19 %
Sparkling mineral water + 18 %
Table vinegar + 15 %

Specifically: While twelve out of 40 products became up to 30 percent cheaper in the March year-on-year comparison (such as potatoes), 23 out of 40 products show drastic price increases of up to 72.2 percent (led by bean coffee). Five products remained at the same price level as the previous year (such as flour, strained tomatoes).

Expensive Prices in Supermarkets: In March 2025, the shopping basket in supermarkets cost on average nearly eleven percent more than at discount stores.

Prices Have Risen Exorbitantly Since September 2021

Since the beginning of the inflation wave in September 2021, prices have literally exploded. Except for liquid detergent, all products have become more expensive. Some examples: orange juice plus 142 percent, coffee beans plus 126 percent, penne pasta plus 97 percent, flour plus 88 percent, whole milk chocolate plus 80 percent, and tea butter has seen an 81 percent price increase.

AK consumer protection advocate Gabriele Zgubic summarizes: "The cheapest food is more expensive than ever. People with low incomes, families, and both young and older people are particularly affected. It is high time for the federal government to address its commitment to combating inflation and ensuring affordable and fair food prices."

About the Price Monitor: The AK Vienna surveyed the base prices of 40 cheapest food and some cleaning products of weekly necessity in seven Viennese supermarkets (Billa, Billa Plus, Spar, Interspar) and at discount stores (Hofer, Lidl, Penny) in three Viennese branches each in March 2025. Additionally, further surveys were conducted in other branches if needed.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.