Increase in food prices of 53.4% between 2015 and 2022

By:Mohamed Ben Abderrazek

Food prices, excluding non-alcoholic beverages, have surged by a staggering 53.4% between 2015 and 2022, according to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The INS data underscores the persistent and far-reaching nature of this price escalation, affecting every component that comprises the family consumer price index. This includes beef, sheep meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and their derivatives, as well as cereals, dairy products, cheese, fruits, vegetables, edible oils, and more.

It’s noteworthy that, despite shifts in consumption patterns, evolving market dynamics, and the ever-increasing reliance on food essentials, the weight assigned to food products in the household budget has remained fixed at 26.2% for several years.

This unrelenting food inflation, which has shown no signs of abating since 2015, poses a grave challenge to the purchasing power of households, particularly those who are most economically vulnerable.

Adding to these concerns, a recent report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) titled “The Tunisian Agricultural and Agri-food System Facing Crises: Focus on the Cereal Value Chain” highlights the ongoing persistence of inflation, especially within the food sector. This persistence, if left unchecked, threatens to undermine the quality of life for Tunisians, particularly at a time when insecurity and unemployment remain prevalent, especially in rural regions within the country’s interior.