site.btaConsumer Basket Rises to EUR 58 amid Seasonal Increases in Fruit, Vegetable Prices

The cost of the consumer basket comprising 27 basic food products has reached EUR 58 at wholesale prices, reflecting an increase of EUR 1 over the past reporting week, Vladimir Ivanov, Chair of the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets and Head of the Coordination Centre on Euro Adoption, said on Tuesday at a regular briefing at the Council of Ministers.

Ivanov explained that the changes were due to market and seasonal factors, adding that the impact of the euro was estimated at less than 0.5%.

He stressed that the main reason for the rise in the value of the basket was the increase in fruit and vegetable prices. Prices of red and green peppers and courgettes have risen by more than 100%, while lemons have increased by EUR 0.30 over the past week due to limited supply. Tomatoes and cucumbers remain at high price levels, with increases of about EUR 0.16 each since the beginning of 2026.

Ivanov reported that prices in some product groups have remained stable or have even declined. Sugar, flour and eggs have remained unchanged since the start of 2026. The most notable decreases have been recorded for pork, down by EUR 0.32, yoghurt by EUR 0.06, and rice by EUR 0.05. Beans, fresh milk and chicken have shown small fluctuations of between EUR 0.02 and EUR 0.04. By contrast, prices of yellow cheese, white brined cheese and butter have increased by EUR 0.21, EUR 0.20 and EUR 0.20, respectively.

For seasonal vegetables such as cabbage, carrots and onions, prices have varied only slightly, by EUR 0.02-0.03 over the past 45 days, Ivanov said. The only fruit to show any decrease has been bananas, down by EUR 0.01 on a weekly basis.

He added that overall, the market is currently following the usual seasonal pattern, with price increases in the autumn and winter followed by declines in the spring and summer.