Prices for drugstore goods and groceries are constantly rising!

Prices for drugstore goods and groceries are constantly rising!

The pricing policy for drugstore goods and branded products remains tense and is causing frustration among consumers. According to a current report from 5min.at, the AK price monitor shows that the prices for the cheapest drugstore goods were reduced by only six percent in January 2025 compared to the previous year. The price decline for individual items such as hair balm and shampoo is significant, while other products such as cling film and shaving foam have increased by up to 136 percent. Gabriele Zgubic from the AK warns that despite the slightly lower basic prices, the burden on household budgets remains enormous: “The price reduction is hardly noticeable, prices remain at a high level.”

In addition, the Chamber of Labor reports that inflation remains particularly high for food and cleaning products. In September 2023, prices for branded drugstore goods in the online shops of Bipa, DM and Müller rose by an average of 1.3 percent, while essential foods became more expensive by 2.4 percent, according to the analysis by arbeiterkammer.at. Products such as orange juice and olive oil saw price increases of up to 17 percent and 14 percent, respectively. These developments present many consumers with the challenge of adjusting their budgets, as even supposedly cheaper branded items have become significantly more expensive.

Price increases in detail

The price monitor not only documented general trends, but also gave concrete examples of drastic price increases: A kilogram of fine crystal sugar at Interspar already cost 1.39 euros in September 2023, 85.3 percent more than in the previous year. The cheapest body milk at Müller rose by a shocking 224 percent. Consumers are forced to pay more attention to offers and cheaper alternatives when shopping, because the prices of everyday products are and will remain a hot topic.