Consumer Group Finds Holiday Shopping Basket Prices Drop Slightly Year-Over-Year

A recent survey by the Consumer Council in Israel reveals that the average price of a holiday shopping basket has decreased by approximately 1% compared to last year. However, the same basket is now 7% more expensive than it was before the war began on October 7th.

The survey, which analyzed prices of 456 common products two weeks before Rosh Hashanah, found significant price fluctuations across different categories. While items like red and white wine saw a 7% increase and honey rose by 4%, avocado prices surged by a dramatic 31%. Conversely, breakfast cereals and cornflakes dropped by about 13%, canned tomatoes by 8%, and fabric softeners by 9%, contributing to the overall slight decrease in the basket's price.

When comparing major supermarket chains, Rami Levy was identified as the cheapest option, with a total basket cost of 5,986 shekels. Super Yuda was found to be the most expensive, with the same basket costing 8,904 shekels, a difference of 49%. Among smaller neighborhood chains, Neto Saving was the cheapest, while Super Yuda remained the priciest.

In terms of year-over-year price changes, Rami Levy in the neighborhood, Super Beit Ha'פרי, and Carrefour Hyper saw the most significant price reductions. In contrast, Half Free, Super Yuda, and King Store experienced the largest price increases.

The study also highlighted substantial price disparities for individual items across different retailers. For instance, frozen salmon fillet varied by 127%, fresh beef shoulder by 68%, and fresh chicken breast by as much as 152% between the cheapest and most expensive stores.