Lisbon, March 26, 2026 (Lusa) – The cost of a basic food basket (monthly budget for adequate food intake) of 63 products monitored by Portugal's consumer watchdog, Deco Proteste, rose €0.08 this week compared to last, reaching a new record of €254.40.

In a statement released on Thursday, Deco Proteste said that despite the slight weekly rise, "this increase again represents the highest price since it began analysis in 2022."

"A year ago, consumers could buy exactly the same products for €17.46 less (7.37% less)," the group said, adding that at the start of 2022, the same goods cost €66.70 less (a 35.53% difference)".

Between 18 and 25 March, the products with the highest percentage price increases were courgettes (up 17% to €2.75), plum tomatoes (up 15% to €2.60), and onions (up 10% to €1.42).

Compared to the same period last year, the sharpest percentage rises occurred in cabbage (up 53% to €1.87), ground roasted coffee (up 39% to €5.15), and sea bass (up 39% to €9.81 per kilogram (kg)).

Since Deco Proteste began this analysis on 5 January 2022, the largest percentage increases have been in beef for stewing (up 122% to €12.89/kg), cabbage (up 88% to €1.87/kg), and eggs (up 84% to €2.10).

The essential food basket monitored by the association includes meat, frozen foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, groceries and fish. It considers products such as turkey, chicken, horse mackerel, hake, onion, potato, carrot, banana, apple, orange, rice, spaghetti, sugar, ham, milk, cheese and butter.

PD /LYT // AYLS

Lusa