Belgian consumers are continuing to face higher grocery bills, despite signs that inflation is stabilizing. According to a recent price comparison study by Test Achats, the country’s consumer protection organization, supermarket inflation has risen by 3.1% in October, marking the fourth consecutive month of price increases.
Although the rate is lower than the record-breaking inflation rates of 2023, when prices surged by over 20%, the ongoing rise is still a significant burden for Belgian households.
The increase in October is particularly striking when compared to January 2022, the point at which inflation exceeded 2% for the first time in decades.
Since then, the cost of a basic supermarket cart has risen by 27%, making it more expensive to purchase everyday essentials. In comparison, inflation rates in July, August, and September stood at 2.5%, 2.5%, and 2.8%, respectively.
These figures were gathered from over 3,000 products across seven major supermarket chains in Belgium, including Albert Heijn, Carrefour, Colruyt, Cora, Delhaize, Aldi, and Lidl, which Test Achats has been tracking for three years.
The categories driving the latest inflation surge are mainly food and drink, with soft drinks showing an 8% increase, fish products climbing by 6%, and both fruits and vegetables rising by 5%.
Specific products that have seen the largest price hikes in October include dark chocolate, up by 30%, olive oil at 27%, and orange juice with a 22% increase.
Other staple items like ketchup and mustard have also become significantly more expensive, with ketchup seeing a price hike of 85% since January 2022, mustard up by 64%, and olive oil climbing by 61%. Even basic vegetables like onions and carrots have seen prices rise by 61% and 57%, respectively.
Despite these increases, some items have seen price reductions, notably cling film and wet wipes, which have dropped by 9%, and pork and beef mince, which are down by 7%.
Surprisingly, despite the continuous price increases, a recent survey conducted by Test Achats in June found that, on average, Belgian households are spending less on groceries in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The average household grocery expenditure is now €450 per month, down from €468 in 2023. This decrease in spending is not a result of lower prices, but rather a shift in purchasing behavior, with more consumers opting for supermarket private labels over more expensive branded products.
Test Achats spokesperson Laura Claeys noted that households in financial distress are still feeling the pinch.
“People in a difficult financial situation spend about €24 less than the average per month, but their spending has increased compared to last year. In 2023, they were still spending an average of €410 per month, now it’s €426,” she explained.
This suggests that while many have already switched to cheaper store brands, they are still struggling to keep costs down, with little room left to make further savings.
As grocery prices continue to rise, many Belgian families are having to adapt their purchasing habits to cope with the ongoing cost of living.
