Which supermarket foods have been hardest hit by inflation in France?
From sugar to spaghetti, a new study has looked at the items that have increased the most in price over the last two years
A new study has revealed the reality of France’s rising food prices.
French consumer group 60 Millions de Consommateurs compared the prices of 35 of the most popular premium brand items between March 2021 and February 2023, taking into account the supermarket type.
It found that between March 2021 and March 2022, prices rose by 2%, from €93.03 to €95.15 for the basket of items.
But, since then, prices have risen sharply.
By February this year, the total cost of 35 items had rocketed to €112.29, a rise of 18% from a year earlier and 20% up compared with two years ago.
Which items went up in price?
Of the basket of goods studied, these are the items that saw the biggest increases between 2021 and 2023.
Béghin Say granulated sugar €1.87 (2021) | €2.92 (2023) | +56%
Charal 10 steak haché burgers* €8.06 | €12 | +48.8%
Barilla spaghetti 500g €0.77 | €1.09 | +42%
Président butter 250g €1.96 | €2.66 | +36%
Candia Grandlait 6 x 1L €5.22 | €6.99 | +34%
Paic lemon washing up liquid 750ml* €1.47 | €2 | +36%
Francine wheat flour T45 1kg €0.89 | €1.14 | +28%
Lotus toilet paper x 6 €3.15 | €4) | +27%
Harry’s sliced bread (20 slices) €1.42 | €1.77) | +25%
Puget extra-virgin olive oil (1L) €7.45 | €9.25 | +24%
* 2023 values for these items are approximate
Dry goods and fresh food
Other notable rises include a 21% jump for Cristalline mineral water (from €1 to €1.21 in a year), +20% for a box of Cassegrain peas, and +17% for a pack of Cassegrain fine green beans. A pack of Pépito biscuits rose from €2.62 to €3.17.
Items to have risen, but more modestly, include:
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Coca-Cola cola drink 1.75L: Up 5%
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Nutella chocolate spread, 1kg: Up 7%
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Joker orange juice, 1L: Up 9%
The results of the study correspond with findings from the inflation observatory NielsenIQ, which has confirmed that prices have risen more quickly this year than last.
The first week of March saw prices rise by 0.5% alone, it said, which was twice as fast as the weeks before. And prices are set to continue rising, the study suggested, as the results of supermarket and manufacturer negotiations begin to bite over the coming months.
Supermarkets warned of a “red March” last month, but experts said that prices were expected to continue rising until at least the summer. This is despite many supermarkets’ efforts to offer a ‘low-cost’ basket of goods, and a new ‘trimestre anti-inflation’ imposed by the government.
Last week, France’s statistics agency said food prices in the country had risen 15.8% in March 2023 compared with 12 months earlier.
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