Search in January shows a reduction in the purchase of food and cleaning and hygiene items; Only perishables had high
Before In the cost of food, Brazilian consumers are buying less in supermarkets, especially essential items. According to a 360 retail survey, conducted from January 1 to 21, 2025, there was a reduction in the acquisition of products such as coffee, milk and chocolate.
During this period, the purchase of UHT milk per client fell 4.4% compared to the same period of the previous year, while the consumption of toasted and ground coffee dropped 2.5% per consumer. In addition, chocolates, cookies and cleaning products and personal hygiene also recorded retraction in sales. Read the research results (PDF – 526 KB).
However, although the prices of cleaning and hygiene items are no longer expensive, the purchase of these products has also fallen. The survey shows a slight 2% drop in the purchase of soaps and 0.6% in the purchase of deodorants. For Fernando Faro, director of Retail 360, the discharge of basic items impairs the exit of items from other categories.
To the Poder360he said people are having to “Squeeze the belt” in other categories to buy food products.
“As you can see in the table, the average spending by shopper in the food autoservice had an increase of 6.56% among the periods analyzed. However, when we analyze the distribution of these expenses by ‘product category’, we observed a significant increase in the participation of commodity spending (basic items: sugar, rice, coffee) and PAS (perishable products). Both groups are basically composed of food, it is the increase in these categories has forced consumers to ‘tighten the belt’ in other categories”Said Faro.
Basic Basket High
This phenomenon occurs in a scenario of in the prices of the basic basket, which rose in 13 of the 17 capitals analyzed by the (Intersindical Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies). São Paulo presented the most expensive basket, reaching R $ 851.82.
The Dieese also showed that the minimum wage required to support a family of 4 people should be $ 7,156.15, more than 4 times higher than the current minimum wage of R $ 1,518.00.
The price of coffee powder, for example, increased in all capitals, impacted by limited world supply and speculation around the grain. Tomato was also high in 15 of the 17 capitals analyzed. On the other hand, the price of potatoes fell on 9 of the 10 cities in the south-century, reflecting a larger offer and the harvest productivity.
Lula suggests avoiding expensive products
The president (PT) and the Minister of the Civil House, They suggested that avoiding high prices could contribute to cost stabilization.
On Thursday (6.FEV.2025), Lula stated that one of the ways of “control pricesIt would be the consumer to avoid buying items at high prices. According to the president, if consumers stop buying expensive products, sellers will have to reduce values to avoid losses. He made the statements in an interview with Bahian radios Metropolis e Society. Read what Lula said .
Lula’s speech meets a previous statement by Minister Rui Costa, who, on January 24, 2025, when commenting on the price of orange, suggested that if the fruit were expensive, consumers could choose another alternative. The statement generated criticism and on social networks. Read what Rui Costa said .
Minister points out different strategy
In an interview with Poder360 On Tuesday (4.FEV), the Minister of Agrarian Development, said that the government will adopt a different strategy. According to him, the management aims to include in the budget of 2025, which will still be analyzed by Congress, a request of R $ 1 billion for the formation of regulatory inventories, especially rice, beans and wheat.
Teixeira pointed out that it is necessary to reinforce in a way “careful“As food reservations to avoid impacts”High conjuncture”In prices. Read what Teixeira said .
