Procon Goiás reports up to 478% price swings in basic food items

The consumer‑protection agency Procon Goiás surveyed supermarkets in Goiânia, Caldas Novas and Rio Quente, examining 36 staple products across 14 stores in the capital and 21 stores in the other cities. The study found the most extreme variation in the price of a kilogram of common tomato, ranging from R$ 2.75 to R$ 15.90 – a 478% difference. Banana‑maçã prices varied by more than 275%, beans by 176%, coxão mole beef by nearly 150%, and French bread by 142%.

In Caldas Novas, tomato prices also showed large gaps, up to 191% (R$ 5.49‑R$ 15.99 per kg). A 500‑gram coffee package varied by 165% (R$ 19.99‑R$ 52.99). Using the lowest observed prices, the basic food basket would cost R$ 538.24; using the highest, it would reach R$ 1,268.62 – a gap of over R$ 730. Procon Goiás advises shoppers to compare prices, plan purchases, watch promotions, and check product expiry dates to mitigate the impact of such price volatility.