Some declines recorded, such as those of mayonnaise, strawberry jam, fish sticks or orange juice. But limited on average around 1%. Conversely, the minced steak, the can of green beans, the Camembert or the can of tuna cost a few cents more.
As a result, the price of the food shopping basket prepared each month by Circana for Le Monde remained stable in May, almost at its highest level, according to data from the panelist, Thursday May 23. Worth just over 100 euros, at the end of 2021, this trolley, made up of national brand, private label and “first price” products, now costs 125.29 euros. The increase is 0.3% year-on-year.
This photograph of the prices of food products should be compared with the report presented on Monday May 13 by the commercial relations mediator. He explained that manufacturers of national brand products had asked distributors for average price increases of around 4.5% for 2024.
Frozen foods and fresh non-dairy products down slightly
At the end of the trade negotiations concluded at the end of January, the result of the discussions would have resulted, according to its estimates, in an average increase of less than 1%. Certain product families, such as frozen foods and fresh non-dairy products (cold meats, meat, etc.) are down slightly (between − 0.5% and − 1%), while others, like dairy products, of salty and sweet groceries as well as drinks, would be up slightly (between 0.5% and 1%).
This quasi-stability is found in the barometer published by Circana. The panelist, who scrutinizes all purchases of consumer products in retail, notes a very slight price deflation of 0.1% year-on-year in May. A first since the start of the cycle of price increases that began in December 2021. But this trend is linked to deflation with regard to hygiene and drugstore products, down 2.2% year-on-year. Prices for food products increased by 0.2%.
The objective set by the Ministry of the Economy to trigger a reduction in food prices in supermarkets, by legislating on an advancement of the timetable for trade negotiations, has therefore not really been achieved.