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The shopping list became more expensive in April with millions of Spaniards confined and limited exit permits in most cases to the supermarket. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) referred to the month of April reflects a general drop in the cost of living of 0.7% due to the lowering of energy supplies such as electricity or fuels, although from the analysis by products it appears that the vast majority of foods recorded increases compared to the month of March and, above all, April 2019.

For example, fresh fish rose 2.7% in April and are 10.5% more expensive today than just a year ago. Something similar has happened with fruit, whose price increased by 1.6% in the last month and, looking back, it is already the most expensive product in the household shopping basket, with a cumulative increase of 12, 8% in one year.

The price of the fruit surpasses even the jewelry products , which in the last 12 months have registered an increase of 12.2% driven by the increase in the price of gold as a refuge value in times of turbulence in the financial markets.

The rise in food products coincided with complaints from the primary sector of the economy about the difficulties in carrying out their work in full confinement. Several agrarian employers warned the Government of the lack of hands to carry out the fruit harvesting due to the lack of seasonal workers.

But food price rises go far beyond fresh produce. In April, the foods that most raised their prices were pizzas and quiche (+ 3.6%), seafood (+ 3.5%), potatoes (+ 2.6%), pasta (+2 , 5%) and, among others, beer (2.1%). With all the bars in the country closed, this drink registered the highest price in the historical series.

On the positive side of the household pocket scale are electricity energy supplies and the price of fuel. Fuels became cheaper by more than 8% during the month of April - coinciding with the collapse of the oil price and road movements - and today they are 17% cheaper than a year ago. In the case of electricity, the cost decreased by 5.8% and the average bill should be 20% lower than in April 2019, although this will depend on the rate that each household has contracted.

The quarantine also leaves a significant price drop in the "games and hobbies" category , the cost of which has decreased by 4.4% during the months of March and April due to the discounts of various producers to make domestic confinement more bearable.

In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project

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