Supermarket Basket Costs Remain Stable Despite Sharp Price Swings
A C14 survey comparing 114 grocery products shows the total basket cost rose just 0.54% annually, with Rami Levy remaining cheapest and Carrefour priciest.
The high cost of living is most acutely felt at the supermarket checkout, where even routine shopping has become a major expense. However, an annual price comparison reveals a complex picture: while the total cost of a shopping basket rose by an average of just half a percent, the prices of specific products surged by dozens of percent, while others actually saw significant price cuts.
Chain Comparison: Rami Levy vs. Carrefour Market
In a comprehensive survey conducted by C14 using Pricez, the prices of 114 products across five major retail chains were compared between October 19, 2025, and October 18, 2026. The data shows that Rami Levy retained its top spot as the cheapest supermarket chain, even though its basket price increased slightly. Conversely, Carrefour Market remained the most expensive chain despite a minor decrease in its total basket price.
Rami Levy offered the basket for 1,198.39 NIS in October 2025, compared to 1,204.90 NIS in October 2026—an increase of 6.51 NIS, or approximately 0.54%. Meanwhile, at Carrefour Market, the basket price dropped from 1,452.15 NIS to 1,450.73 NIS—a reduction of just 1.42 NIS (0.1%). The price gap between the two chains reaches 245.83 NIS for the exact same 114 products.
Price Fluctuations Across Other Chains
Shifts were also recorded across other retail networks:
-
Yochananof: The basket price decreased from 1,261.36 NIS to 1,255.99 NIS, a markdown of 5.37 NIS.
-
Victory: The basket price rose by 13.48 NIS to reach 1,406.19 NIS.
-
Universe: Recorded the sharpest price hike among the chains surveyed, climbing from 1,369 NIS to 1,387.88 NIS, an increase of 18.88 NIS over the year.
Surging Prices vs. Sharp Declines
"The data demonstrates why a relatively small change in the total basket cost does not necessarily reflect what consumers feel at the checkout register," market analysts note.
While overall averages remained stable, individual items fluctuated wildly. Granulated instant coffee (200 grams) jumped from 24.30 NIS to 32.90 NIS, a 35.4% spike. White potatoes surged by 40%, rising from 3.50 NIS to 4.90 NIS per kilogram, while dry onions increased by 32.4% to 4.90 NIS per kilogram. Tomatoes also grew more expensive by over 20%, reaching 6.72 NIS per kilogram.
On the flip side, avocados experienced a steep drop from 11.70 NIS to 6.48 NIS per kilogram, a 44.6% reduction. Beets, sweet potatoes, melons, and Persian rice were also discounted, offsetting some of the broader inflationary pressures.
