Ukrainian consumers face difficulties in purchasing food products, in particular, basic goods necessary for normal nutrition, as a result of the rapid increase in prices. Despite the official indicators of inflation, which remain within acceptable limits, consumers experience a real increase in the cost of products , which becomes a significant burden on family budgets.
According to the company Picodi, the cost of a conventional grocery basket, which includes bread, milk, eggs, rice, cheese, meat, vegetables and fruit, has increased by 22% in one year. This is significantly higher than official inflation figures for the same period. Experts believe that this may be related to the redistribution of funds in family budgets due to the increase in utility payments.
According to Oksana Ruzhenkova, an expert of the World Bank, many consumers are forced to choose products of the lowest price category, and those who can afford it delay the purchase of expensive products, such as cheeses, butter, sausages.
The situation regarding the supply of goods will also undergo changes. For example, the number of Polish products on the shelves is decreasing, and domestic products are gradually replacing them. Also, experts do not exclude the expansion of the assortment of "pseudo-products", such as cheese products instead of cheese, spreads instead of butter, etc.
Forecasting trends for the near term, experts point to the possibility of price reductions for some products, including sunflower oil, eggs and sugar. However, the risk of rising prices for bread and bakery products remains high due to the shortage of food wheat in the domestic market.
As for vegetables and fruits, their prices may increase by 5-7% due to the ratio of supply and demand, inflation , weather conditions and global trends. However, it is important to consider the quality of the products, as it can affect the price dynamics.
In general, a moderate increase in consumer prices is forecast in the coming months. Against the background of increasing food costs, consumers should be more careful when planning their family expenses and choose more economical alternatives to preserve their budget.
