Kebabs defy inflation: why they still cost €3.50

Kebab prices stay frozen while inflation hits 30%

Amid soaring prices, the kebab has become the exception that defies the CPI. In Madrid's Tetuán district, Real Estambul sells its product for €3.50, just twenty cents more than in 2014. The cumulative increase of 6.1% contrasts with 30% general inflation and the 44% recorded by restaurants. How can this anomaly be explained?

Theories behind the frozen price

Analysts float several hypotheses. The most obvious is product quality: low-cost ingredients and generous portions make it possible to keep the margin. The most uncomfortable one points to the informal economy: undeclared cash payments, minimized invoicing and, in some cases, workers living in the premises themselves. In fact, one well-known case involves a kebab shop where eight people live to save on rent.

The money laundering question

Another theory holds that these establishments exist to launder dirty money. Spain's tax agency (Hacienda), however, can cross-check meat purchase invoices against declared sales, which would limit any room for maneuver. Supporters of the laundering theory say the reluctance to accept card payments is a clue; skeptics reply that this is common practice in the hospitality industry.

An unsolved mystery

The question remains open. If it were only about quality, the market would punish the product. If it were laundering, intervention would be imminent. Meanwhile, the kebab stands as a price anchor in the middle of the inflationary storm. And for now, no one has found the answer that closes the case.