Supermarket inflation fell slightly in December, marking a pause after several months of increases. But is this improvement enough to relieve consumers?
Like every month, we take stock of inflation in supermarkets using the RTL info-Testachats basket. The price of more than 3000 basic products is analyzed in 7 supermarket chains.
Inflation in supermarkets fell slightly in December 2024. A lull after several consecutive months of increase.
Julie Frère, spokesperson for Testachats, welcomes this reduction: “Good news, for the last month of 2024, inflation fell slightly, from 3.23% in November to 2.81%. This decline puts an end to five consecutive months of rising inflation: good news.“
However, prices remain well above those in January 2022.
The products most affected by the increase
Despite this decline, certain products continue to show marked increases over one year. At the top of the ranking:
- Dark chocolate: +33%
- Olive oil: +24%
- Jus d’orange : +21 %
These increases affect common products, weighing directly on household budgets.
Some price drops
However, certain items have seen significant declines over the past year:
-- Cauliflower: -14%
- Salade iceberg : -13 %
- Film freshness: -9%
However, these reductions remain isolated in a still tense overall context.
A basket still much more expensive than in 2022
If inflation slows, the cost of the basket remains high. Compared to January 2022, prices jumped by 27%. Some notable examples:
- Ketchup is now 84% more expensive.
- Mustard costs 71% more.
- Olive oil shows an increase of 63%.
- Onions increased by 59%.
What to expect for 2025?
The Planning Bureau forecasts a gradual decline in general inflation below 2% in the second half of 2025, in particular thanks to the stabilization of energy and raw materials costs. However, Julie Frère remains cautious: “Food prices remain unpredictable, subject to cascading effects, whether predictable, such as wage indexations, or not, such as transport or energy costs.“
The impact of trade agreements, such as those linked to Mercosur, could also play a role in 2025, in particular by increasing the import of low-cost products, sometimes to the detriment of local producers.
For consumers, savings margins exist. According to Testachats, “a household of two people can save more than 500 euros per year” by changing your purchasing habits.
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