The price of the basic product basket in Lanzarote is currently “30% more expensive than last year, especially in products such as milk, eggs and bread”, denounces Fernando Jiménez, president of the Consumers Association of Lanzarote, Aculanza, in an interview with La Voz.
“If inflation in Spain is around 10%, Jiménez wonders how it can be that the people of Lanzarote “are enduring increases of 30%”.
According to Aculanza data, the kilo of bananas, a product typical of the archipelago, which does not depend so much on economic externalities, “could be obtained a year ago for less than 1.10 euros”. Currently, “it cannot be obtained for less than 1.65 and sometimes costs up to two euros per kilo” explains Jiménez.
Aculanza's complaints extend to many other basic products. They have detected price increases of around 30% compared to last year in mineral water and olive oil. “Five liters of oil cost 10 euros a year ago, you can no longer find it for less than 15”. Aculanza has also observed sharp increases in the price of tomatoes, apples or onions.
In the case of milk, Aculanza has observed how many white brands have experienced increases of up to 20 cents per carton.
Even Lanzarote's own wine has risen. “The liter could be obtained a year ago for between 10 and 12 euros, it is now at 15, due to the increase in the price of cork”, adds the president of Aculanza.
Aculanza detects smaller products with less quality
“We have also observed the reduction in the size of the products, if before they were 500 grams now they are 450 or 400”, explains Jiménez, “maintaining the same price or even raising it a little” he adds.
"We are also realizing that qualities are decreasing, in prepared salads we have noticed that the amount of green leaf has increased and less tuna and fewer olives", exemplifies the president of Aculanza.
"Other products, such as pre-cooked pizzas, have reduced the quality of some ingredients such as ham. They are looking for a way to maintain prices and we are realizing that they are cutting back on quality somewhat", adds the president of the consumer association.
Conversations with large stores
In their meetings with large food stores, supermarkets have explained to Aculanza that “they are increasing prices based on the increase in transport and energy costs”.
“They also explain to me”, says Jiménez, “that by raising the price of raw materials they have to increase the price of the shopping basket”.
But, in addition, supermarkets also attribute the price increase to the costs of “adapting to environmental regulations for packaging and waste separation”, says the president of Aculanza.
Some supermarkets have explained to the association that they also fear a “possible rise in the price of sugar due to the speculation to which this product is subjected”.
In France, when prices rise too much, surfaces pay more taxes
Prices have always been higher in Lanzarote than in the capital islands due to the additional transportation costs required, but at the moment they are much higher.
“We don't feel really protected, especially by the Ministry of Consumption. We do not understand how the consumer inspection is not able to see that this repercussion is well above the increase in transport and energy costs”, laments Jiménez.
The president of Aculanza explains that there are ways to contain the increases without setting price caps. “In countries like France, when surfaces raise the prices of basic products above an established percentage, this implies an increase in the tax cost”, since they enter another tax bracket. So that “without going against the market, it prevents the market from skyrocketing”.
