Data from the third survey and about the basic consumer food basket was published in the week leading up to World Food Day (16 October). It is one of the main mechanisms for mitigating rising food prices and preserving the purchasing power of the Slovenian public. After three surveys, it can be said that the price comparison tool is showing tangible results. Compared with the first survey, which was conducted in mid-September, the average price of the cheapest consumer basket was down just over 15%.

Analysis of the movements in regular prices reveals average prices of products in four food categories to have fallen over the last two weeks: semi-hard, half-fat cheese, pork cutlets, type 500 white flour, and beef cutlets. Prices in these four categories fell by 3.91% on average. Average prices of products in ten categories rose, most notably white bread, with a price rise of just over 14%. Potatoes were the sole category in the survey where prices remained unchanged.

Average prices fell in ten food categories between the first and third surveys, including cheese (the largest fall of 21.05%), pork (18.4%), potatoes (11.82%) and flour (6.72%). The largest rises in average prices between the first and third surveys were recorded by the categories of sugar (44.55%, from an average of EUR 1.01 to EUR 1.46), tomatoes (33.6%), onions (25.93%) and peppers (21.24%). The rise in prices of tomatoes, onions and peppers was expected, given that the peak of seasonal supply has now passed.

Average prices in the cheapest consumer food baskets have fallen continually over the period of the first three surveys. The largest fall in regular prices without discounts occurred during the second survey. The third survey, conducted on 10 October, saw minimal variation between retailers in the cost of the cheapest baskets, with the exception of the most expensive retailer, where the cost of the basket was EUR 4.63 higher than the cheapest basket.

Analysis of the lowest regular prices of the food basket at retailers in Slovenia also includes information about the provenance of products in the cheapest basket. Products of Slovenian origin can be seen to prevail at most of the retailers, with a high of 12 products of Slovenian origin in the cheapest basket at one retailer, and a low of six in the cheapest basket at another retailer. The cheapest basket at each retailer contained an average of nine or ten products of Slovenian origin. The average cost of the basket in the third survey was down just under 2% on the second survey at EUR 42.31 (and down just over 15% or EUR 7.59 in all on the first survey). The cheapest basic consumer food basket cost EUR 41.22 on this occasion.

Additional analysis of the dairy, meat, and fruit and vegetables categories revealed that products of Slovenian origin prevail among those included in the survey basket. Two retailers are particularly notable for their products of Slovenian origin: they only had products from Slovenia in the category of dairy products included in the survey. No clear link between the average price of products and the country of origin could be identified. Fruit and vegetables of Slovenian origin were cheaper than foreign products at two retailers, while at the other retailers the prices of Slovenian and foreign products varied within individual categories. The retailer with the largest number of Slovenian products had a basket that was just over 85% Slovenian in origin, while the lowest number at any retailer was just under 37%.

The price comparison tool collates information about the availability and price of products at particular retailers on the day of the survey, and presents it in simple fashion. The survey includes regular prices, and discounts available to all consumers without being cardholders or members of other discount schemes. The range of products can be compared across origin, price and quality at a single site. Consumers can compare food products in 15 basic categories, and in five additional categories that change according to season and demand. An additional comparison tool is available that allows consumers to monitor the movement of prices of a particular product over time at various retailers. Analysis also shows the retailers’ rankings in terms of the lowest to highest average cost of the basket, which change from survey to survey.

The surveys are conducted with the knowledge of the retailers, but they are not notified in advance. The week of the survey is known, but not the day or the location. The surveyor informs the retailer via an employee at the shop (the retailers provide contact information) when they enter the selected shop to conduct the survey.