"Between February 14th and 21st, the food basket with 41 essential goods monitored by DECO PROteste increased by 1.62 euros, to 145.48 euros. This price is 3.51 euros above the price of the same basket on January 4th, the last day of VAT exemption", the organisation said in a statement.

According to accounts from the consumer protection organisation, "the biggest price increase in this basket was recorded between January 4, the last day of zero VAT, and January 10, during which period it rose by 7.96 euros (plus 5. 60 percent), to 149.93 euros".

"Since then, the price of this basket of essential goods has shown a downward trend, but has suffered price fluctuations, with increases and decreases".


What prices have risen the most?

Between the 14th and 21st of February, fresh hake was the product in this basket whose price increased the most, and "in just one week, the increase was 2.25 euros per kilo, with a kilo of this variety of fish now costing 11.67 euros (plus 24%)".

"In addition to fresh hake, spaghetti and spiral pasta also saw large price increases. In spaghetti, the increase was 17 cents (around 15%) in one week, to 1.27 euros. In spiral pasta, the price reached 1.59 euros, after an increase of 13 cents (around 9%)", he adds.