Did the “anti-inflation quarter” work? For the executive, the answer is yes, but it was immediately contradicted by the influential consumer association UFC-Que Choisir. According to her, prices have not fallen in supermarkets since March. They would even have increased in certain brands.
The “anti-inflation quarter” was presented by the government as a means of combating galloping inflation on supermarket shelves, still measured at nearly 16% over one year in March. From March 15, the executive promoted a commercial operation followed by the major brands, which undertook to sell a selection of products at the “lowest possible price”. Verdict: “on average for seven weeks, the prices of products in the anti-inflation quarter have fallen by 13% in the basket,” said Minister Delegate for Trade Olivia Grégoire. She assured to rely on the figures of the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF). These concern the evolution of prices between the week of March 6 and that of April 24.
“False” figures, according to UFC-Que Choisir
“Unfortunately, this statement is false,” responded UFC-Que Choisir on its site. According to the association, not only have the prices not fallen, but they have sometimes risen. The baskets of the five brands participating in the anti-inflation quarter were analyzed. Thus, at Intermarché, prices were raised by 1.5%, by 1.4% at Casino, and by 1% at Système U. Carrefour’s prices remained stable, and those of Auchan fell by 0, 3%. Far, in any case, from the figures of the ministry.
The government reacted immediately, contesting the publication of UFC-Que Choisir. The association has demonstrated a “dishonest methodology”, denounced the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on BFMTV and RMC. The changes were calculated between March 23 and May 10, i.e. “after the start of the operation”, he lamented. On the contrary, Olivia Grégoire’s cabinet clarified to AFP that its figures corresponded to the period between the week of March 6 and that of April 24.
On the supermarket side, Intermarché assured that on its selection of 500 anti-inflation products, “75% saw their price drop by around 8%”. But “for the last quarter, prices are either equal or slightly up”. Carrefour did not dispute the stability of its prices, ensuring that it corresponded to the “blocked price commitment” made by the brand. As for System U: “We are carrying out an operation at cost price, which means that we do not take a margin, not that there cannot be an increase”, explained a spokesperson to AFP. The government has already announced that it wants to extend the anti-inflation quarter beyond June 15.