Grocery basket prices climb: up to 50 cents more on basic items

Grocery basket prices climb: up to 50 cents more on basic items

An elderly woman in the supermarket queue was complaining to her husband: everything more expensive yet again. It is not an impression, it is a proven fact: over the last two weeks, products priced between 1 and 10 euros have gone up between 30 and 50 cents. As the man who first flagged it put it: «it's bloody frightening». And it is not an isolated case.

Inflation that won't let up

Prices are giving no respite. The across-the-board rise affects the whole basic basket, from dairy to canned goods. Those who restock their pantry from time to time notice the jump: it is getting harder and harder to fill the fridge. The problem is not new, but it is accelerating. Diesel, fertilisers, energy… everything adds up. Meanwhile, pensions and benefit payments are not keeping pace.

Pessimism takes hold

The outlook is not encouraging. Geopolitical tensions in Iran threaten to push energy prices even higher this winter. Some people have already brought forward their firewood purchases: from late August to late July. A gesture that speaks of distrust in the future. Analysts broadly agree that the worst is yet to come: the energy crisis is compounding food inflation.

The paradox of resignation

What is striking is the social reaction. Despite the constant increases and the forecast of a harsh winter, there is barely any protest. «As long as it doesn't affect them personally, people don't complain», is the summary. Perhaps because the blow is taken as inevitable, or because everyone minds their own business. But the facts are there: the grocery basket keeps getting more expensive, and the outlook offers little cause for optimism.