The price of a basket of products with zero VAT has risen by two euros since the introduction of the measure

The set of food items that are placed in the zero-VAT basket this Monday continues to cost less than without the measure, but is already two euros more expensive than when the exemption took effect.

According to the price collection conducted by Lusa on the website of the food retail chain, the purchase of 46 food items from various categories included in the basket with zero VAT costs this Monday 158.44 euros, plus about two euros than the 156.44 euros it cost April 18th.

A 3.0 kg sack of potatoes, the price of which has increased by 11 cents since the date of entry into force of the VAT exemption, as well as new onions (now priced nine cents higher per kilogram), onions a leek (10 cents more), lettuce (75 cents more), a kilo of broccoli (62 cents more), or an orange (28 cents more).

Chicken breast (which is now 31 cents more per kilo) is another item that contributed to the increase in the price of this basket from April 18 until this Monday.

But among the fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, legumes, oils, olive oil, margarine, eggs, pasta, rice and canned tuna, which make up the basket of 46 products that were compared with previous prices on Monday, there are also five products that were slashed, with the largest reduction being in a package of spaghetti from the distribution’s own brand, which fell from 1.21 euros on 18 April to 0.75 euros.

Prices for products such as long-grain rice and Carolina rice, squash, frozen spinach, bananas, semi-skimmed milk (subject to own brand distribution), eggs, bifana, turkey prema, cod, sardines, olive oil, butter or vegetable yogurt remained unchanged.

Prices with VAT shown on the same website on the day the measure came into effect for the 46 products in question were 166.87 euros, still slightly lower than observed on 28 March on the website of the same retailer.

The list of VAT-free food products, according to the tripartite agreement signed between the Government and the food production and distribution sectors, includes fresh, chilled and frozen vegetables, meat and fish, as well as rice and pasta, cheese, milk and yogurt and fruits, such like apples, pears, oranges, bananas and melons, three types of legumes, or even plant-based drinks and yoghurts, among others.

The products were selected based on the health food basket from the Ministry of Health and distribution companies’ data on the foods most consumed by the Portuguese.

This measure, aimed at combating the impact of food on household income, will remain in effect until the end of October, and the government estimates that it will contribute to reducing the inflation rate in 2023 by 0.2%.

While food retailers have up to 15 days to reflect the reduction in the VAT rate from 6% to 0% on this basket of 46 products at the consumer selling price, many badges began to apply the measure on the day it went into effect. force.