Union Consumer Basket for Q4 2024 shows a 1.5% decrease, rising by 6.49% year-over-year

The Union Consumer Basket (SPK) for the fourth quarter of 2024 shows a decrease of 30 euros in nominal terms (or 1.5%) and now amounts to 1,970 euros.

The Center for Education, Information and Trade Union Research has created another, fifth in a row, union consumer basket (SPK) for a four-member household.

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The fifth SPK covers the fourth quarter of 2024, i.e., the months of October, November and December.

“According to the methodology, the SPK includes ten (10) categories of expenses, and in the observed quarter of this year, there were changes in three categories compared to the previous one, i.e., the third quarter of 2024,” says the statement sent to the media by the Union of Free Trade Unions.

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The categories that saw changes include:

1. Food expenses: These decreased by 10 euros (or 1.65%), meaning that the four-member household now spends 595 euros on this category, compared to 605 euros in the previous quarter. The drop in food prices was influenced by the government’s decision to implement temporary measures to limit the prices of essential products for life and health, although not to the extent expected after the presentation of the SPK for the third quarter of 2024.
2. Household maintenance costs: These rose by 5 euros (or 4.76%), now totaling 110 euros compared to 105 euros in the previous quarter. This increase is concerning, especially considering that several items in the SPK were also affected by the aforementioned price-limiting decision.
3. Education and culture expenses: These saw a decrease of 25 euros (or 19.23%), mainly because there was no need for additional student equipment during this period.

For comparison, the SPK in the same period last year (the fourth quarter of 2023) amounted to 1,850 euros. Therefore, the SPK in the fourth quarter of 2024 has increased by 120 euros (or 6.49%).

There are differences in as many as seven categories of expenses, including: food products, imputed rent, household maintenance, housing and utilities, personal hygiene products and healthcare, education and culture and summer vacations, as concluded in the statement.