How much does food cost in supermarkets and shops?

The basic family basket of food reached a minimum price of $271.35 and a maximum price of $320.26 during the month of March for Panama and San Miguelito counties

The lowest cost in March 2023 was recorded in the sectors of eastern Panama where consumers paid up to USD 271.35; followed by San Miguelito with a price of $273.18; followed by Santa Ana and Calidonia with a price of $274.01.

Regarding the highest cost of CBA, it was observed in the San Francisco sector where the supermarket showed a total cost of 320.26 USD, a figure that is traditionally a consequence of the socioeconomic profile that prevails in the area.

In the report he submitted Department for Information and Price Verification (Diprev) from Directorate for Consumer Protection and Defense of Market Competition (Acodeco), which evaluates the monthly behavior of the basic family food basket, covered 50 supermarkets and 39 mini-supermarkets and grocery stores in different areas of the districts of Panama and San Miguelito.

According to the report, the supermarket chains that most influenced the variation this month compared to February were: Supermercado Xtra with 69.3%, followed by Supermercado Rey with 52.6% and Supermercados El Machetazo with 43.7%, resulting in an increase of $2.00, i.e., $0.70 over February’s total costs.

For the month of March 2023, the increase in the average price was shown by the costs of meat, cereals, pulses, fruit, fat, dairy products, eggs and sugar, while the prices of vegetables, vegetables and miscellaneous recorded a decrease.

In supermarkets, the main declines for March occurred in: traditional ground coffee fell -$0.25 per 425 gram package; green cabbage – USD 0.30 per kilogram; carrots -$0.21 per kilogram; yellow onion -$0.17 per kilogram, and smooth pork -$0.08 per kilogram.

In grocery stores and grocery stores, the price of meat for soup (ribs) decreased by -$0.70 per kilogram; yellow onion – 0.44 dollars per kilogram; cassava – 0.08 dollars per kilogram; medium red apple – $0.01 per unit and tomato paste – $0.03 per 4 ounce can.

Meanwhile, the products that grew the most in supermarkets in March 2023, compared to February, were: medium red apple $0.02 per unit; tomato sauce $0.03 per 4-ounce can; black pulp $0.30 per kilogram; 4×4 packed cooked ham at $0.26 per kilo and green plantain at $0.01 per unit.

As for the price variations observed in grocery store and grocery store, The products that went up in price the most were: pressed white cheese with a little salt, $3.54 per kilogram; diamond yam US$0.28 per kilogram; green banana $0.03 per unit; chicken eggs (loose, medium and large) $0.22 per dozen and orange juice $0.06 per 946 milliliter container.

Acodeco also clarifies that the costs per supermarket chain do not imply that the total costs in each of the supermarkets are the same, especially due to the difference in operating costs and the existence of different brands of some substitute products at the time of monitoring.

Regarding the absolute difference in the different supermarkets monitored in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito (51), we can see the difference between the lowest price and the highest price, of B/.48.91 for the month of March.