Grocery Basket Prices Soar 22.7% in Four Years, Study Finds
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A Tel Aviv University study found that the average Israeli grocery basket price has increased by up to 22.7% in the last four years. The research, analyzing data from major supermarket chains, identified significant price hikes starting in 2023. Researchers cited factors like rising taxes and a lack of public attention to the high cost of living as key contributors to the surge.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A Tel Aviv University study found grocery basket prices increased by up to 22.7% in four years.
- The price surge began in 2023 and continued through 2025, costing consumers hundreds of shekels more.
- Shufersal and Freshמרket saw a 19.6% price increase, while Victory experienced a 16% rise.
- Rami Levy and Yohananof also reported significant price increases in their grocery baskets.
- Researchers cited rising taxes and a lack of public attention to the high cost of living as key factors.
- Professor Itay Ater noted a sharp acceleration in price hikes across all sales channels.
A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals a dramatic increase of up to 22.7% in the price of a typical grocery basket over the past four years. Researchers analyzed daily price data from major retail chains, focusing on an average basket of 80 essential products. The analysis indicates a significant surge in prices beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2025, amounting to hundreds of shekels in increased costs compared to the preceding four-year period.
The study, which utilized data from the Pricez system mandated by the Food Law, examined average monthly prices after discounts across approximately 700 stores. While price hikes were observed across all major chains, the intensity varied. Shufersal and Freshמרket saw a 19.6% increase, while Victory experienced a 16% rise. Rami Levy and Yohananof showed smaller, though still significant, gaps between the two periods, with price increases of 10.3% and 8.5% respectively in the most recent four years.
Researchers attribute the price hikes to several factors, including increases in VAT, property taxes, water, and electricity, as well as regulated product prices. They also noted that a strengthening shekel and a global decline in food prices could have mitigated some of the increases. However, a primary driver identified is a lack of public and governmental attention to the issue of the high cost of living, allowing companies to exploit this oversight.
Professor Itay Ater summarized the findings, stating that the data illustrates a sharp acceleration in price increases across all sales channels, from local stores to discount chains and online platforms, following a period of relatively moderate hikes. The study highlights that this trend is evident even when examining individual products.
