Funchal, Madeira, Aug. 20, 2026 (Lusa) - The index which tracks the monthly prices of 26 essential food items on the Portuguese island of Madeira stood at €77.57 in August 2026, down 6% on July, the Regional Government has announced.
In a statement, the Secretariat for the Economy, led by Christian Democrat José Manuel Rodrigues, noted that the index showed a fall of €4.96 compared with the €82.53 recorded in July.
«This is the lowest figure since April, when the basket cost €84.12, reversing the slight upward trend seen in June and July,» the statement reads.
The regional secretariat emphasises that the fall in the overall cost of the basket was driven primarily by developments in the meat category, which accounts for more than half of the indicator's weight – 54.07% of the total – which fell by 8.03%, equivalent to a reduction of €3.66, from €45.60 to €41.94.
«Among the other product categories, particular attention should be paid to the sharp fall in legumes, which fell by 20.13% – that is, by €0.60 – as well as to the falls recorded in fats and tinned goods, down by 4.96%, and in vegetables, down by 3.42%,» the statement reads.
Conversely, only fruit, which rose by 3.92%, and bread and cereals, which rose by 1.85%, became more expensive during the period under review, bucking the general downward trend.
In terms of individual products, type 55 wheat flour, in one-kilogram packets, was the item that rose the most in price, with an increase of 26.52% , whilst tuna in olive oil, in 120-gram tins, saw the sharpest fall in price, down 20.76%.
«These contrasting variations show that, despite the overall fall in the cost of the basket, significant fluctuations persist in specific products,» states the regional secretariat.
The shopping basket (CabazRAM) was established by Order No. 147/2026 of 20 March and falls under the responsibility of the Regional Directorate for Trade, Industry and Quality; data is collected monthly through direct observation and manual recording at two benchmark retail outlets in Funchal.
The regional secretariat clarifies that, according to the methodology, the prices recorded correspond to the amount actually paid by the consumer at the time of purchase, including promotions with direct and immediate discounts, but exclude benefits associated with loyalty cards, the accumulation of points or vouchers, and conditional campaigns, such as the «Buy 3, Pay for 2» promotion.
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