After a temporary drop at the end of last year, food prices have been consistently rising since January 2025.
In April, food inflation reached 4.35%, surpassing the 4% mark for the first time this year, according to calculations by Testachats. This increase was particularly driven by rising costs of meat, dark chocolate, and fruits.
For over three years, Testachats has been tracking monthly inflation in supermarkets, analysing a sample of 3,000 products across seven major retail chains.
The product categories with the highest price increases include meat (+8%), especially beef (+15%), fruits (+7%), soft drinks (+7%), and spices (+6%). Products containing chocolate have also seen significant rises, with dark chocolate now costing 47% more than a year ago.
"A one-kilo steak now costs an average of 22.23 euros in supermarkets, compared to 19.24 euros a year ago. Beef stew (12%) and plain minced beef (17%) have also become more expensive," illustrates the consumer organisation in a statement.
The rise in beef prices is attributed to a reduced number of cattle in Europe, following several diseases affecting livestock last year, particularly the bluetongue virus.
This virus "caused increased cattle mortality and decreased birth rates, leading to a shortage in supply last year," elaborates Testachats, which does not anticipate a drop in prices soon.
However, some goods have become cheaper than in 2024. Notably, the prices of mangoes (-5%), frying oil (-4%), washing-up liquid (-4%), and bread (-3%) have decreased in the past year.
