The basket of 41 basic necessities with zero VAT that Deco Proteste is monitoring increased 2.85 euros in the last week, compared to the previous week. It is the first weekly increase since the measure (covering 46 categories) came into force on April 18.
Deco Proteste has spent months following a basket with dozens of products, and of that basket, 41 goods are included in the list that the Government began to give zero VAT. On the eve of the entry into force of the measure, on April 17, the basket of those 41 goods from the consumer protection association cost €138.77, a value that has been decreasing every week since then. Until the week ending May 24: then €2.85 compared to the previous week (May 17), focusing on €130.66. Still, it is below the zero value before VAT and the beginning of the year (€133.67 to January 4).
According to data sent to the Observer by Deco Proteste, there are five products that were, on Wednesday, more expensive than before the entry into force of the measure. What stood out the most were the broccoli — on the eve of zero VAT cost 2.41 euros per kiloGoing to 2.70 euro on May 24, an increase of 12% (30 cents).
Observer basket. The average price of the shopping basket makes it easier to travel without VAT, but it still costs more than a year ago
Follow the crustless bread (from 2.02 euros to 2.12 euros, plus 5%) and the spiral mass (from 1.37 euros to 1.44 euros, also plus 5%). already the Golden Apple increased by 3% (six cents), to 1.85 euros, and the tuna put in vegetable oil it is 2% more expensive (three cents), at 1.47 euros. All other products are cheaper.
According to Deco, between April 17 and May 24, the highest percentage drops occurred in the cooking oil (minus 21.54%), in the zucchini (20.94% reduction), in the tomato (minus 17.05%), in curly lettuce (decrease of 15.62%) and in the fresh hake (minus 9.34%). However, hake, despite being cheaper compared to the day before zero VAT came into force, shot up 45% in one week, which is equivalent to 2.58 euros plus a kilo, up to 8, 29 euros per kilo. In the last week, broccoli and curly lettuce rose 6% and Carolina rice 5%.
Deco has a campaign for consumers to report false promotional campaigns linked to zero VAT, called “IVAWashing”, with the slogan “0% VAT is not a promotion, it is an obligation!”. By Wednesday, some 60 complaints had already been received, which can be made via WhatsApp.
The zero VAT basket defined by the Government has five more products than those monitored by Deco Proteste. The measure entered into force on April 18, following an agreement between the Government, the food retail trade and agri-food production and will be in force until at least October 31.
The Treasury clarifies doubts about zero VAT: suckling pig and melon are covered but watermelon is not
Source: Observadora
