A couple with two children needs more than €700 a month to buy food and other essential products, a study by Caritas found.

Conducted by Caritas and nine university students, the study examined the price of food and essential goods.

The methodology of this study was based on an evaluation of prices of goods at two supermarkets in the Central and South of Malta, a supermarket in Gozo, two minimarkets in the North of Malta, three vans selling produce – one in the South, another in the Centre, and one in Gozo – a mini-market selling vegetables and fruit in the North, and the farmer’s market in Ta’ Qali.

Prices of medicinal goods do not vary much across the island, so these were evaluated at a pharmacy in the South.

The study took place in the context of the increasing cost of living, following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Caritas director Anthony Gatt explained that the aim of this study was to identify the prices of food and other basic goods, especially for those on low incomes and those who are trying to live a dignified life.

How much are families spending a month?

The study found that families with two parents and two children spend €719.50 a month, amounting to €8634 a year. For one parent and two children, the cost came to €542.28 a month or €6509.88 a year, while for an elderly couple was €362.28 a month or €4347.36 a year.

According to similar study done in 2022, a family of four spent €698.80 while a family of three spent €526.28 and an elderly couple €351.32. This means that, between 2022 and 2023, the price of basic goods for a family of four increased 2.96% while for a family of three and an elderly couple by 3%.

Farmer’s market in Ta’ Qali offers cheapest prices

The study noted that buying food from a van in Gozo amounted to €45.79 while buying the same goods in a supermarket in Gozo amounted to €60.26.

It also found that the farmer’s market in Ta’ Qali offered the cheapest prices where buying vegetables and fruit costed €38.50, while buying the same goods in a shop selling fruits and vegetables amounted to €77.07.

If one considers that the price of vegetables and fruits in supermarkets, the final cost amounted to €48.56 in the South, €56.89 in the Centre and North, and €60.26 in Gozo.

When one considers the prices of goods from fruit and vegetable vans, this trend is reversed, with vans from the South having the highest prices (€52.54), while vans in the Centre and North offering lower prices (46.90) and vans in Gozo with the cheapest (€45.79).

Elderly couples spend almost €50 a month in medicines

The study found that an elderly couple spends approximately €49.84 a month only on medicines, which amounts to €598.12 a year.

The same goods for a family of four was €32.37 while a family of three spent €20.48.

This means that, from July 2020 to February 2023, prices of medicines increased by more than 25%. For an elderly couple this increased by 44.95%.

Caritas noted that, while many medicines are offered for free by the Government, elderly people may need medicines that are less common and not currently offered for free.

The study also found that bone strengthening tablets, which are widely used by the elderly, costed about €177 a year. It also noted an increase in people requesting anti-depressants.

Less tax on vegetables and fruits, less food waste and community kitchen gardens

Caritas is proposing that supermarkets and shops be given more support to ensure that food is given to those in need instead of being thrown away. It said that this can take place through a collaboration with NGOs and private companies.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that, globally, approximately one third of all food produced is either wasted or lost.

Caritas also recommended the creation of community kitchen gardens. Such gardens, it said, would not only provide sustenance, but also “foster inclusive communities whereby different individuals and families meet to work on a shared goal of healthy and sustainable food production, encouraging holistic wellbeing.”

Caritas said that while it is satisfied with the opening of a farmer’s market in Birgu, this initiative should be extended to other localities as well as areas where there are hospitals, industrial zones and schools “where thousands of people gather”. Caritas also suggested scheduling public transport routes to Ta’ Qali on Saturday mornings to improve access to the market from different localities.

It insisted that for people to have greater access to healthy and nutritious food, taxes on vegetables and fruit should be lowered, suggesting that families with low incomes be given more support to use these foods on a regular basis.

Source: Newsbook.com.mt