Balearic food shopping cuts reach 58.6% as prices rise
PALMA, Mallorca — On 18 August 2026, a Triodos Bank survey found that 58.6% of people in the Balearic Islands had reduced their food shopping because of higher prices. The figure puts the islands second among Spain’s autonomous communities, behind the Canary Islands at 65.1% and above the national rate of 52.5%.
The findings come as July inflation reached 3.6%. Women were more likely than men to report cutting back, at 56.7% against 48.1%, while the share was also 56.7% among those aged 18 to 25, compared with 47.4% for over-65s.
Fish and meat among the main reductions
Among respondents who changed their shopping because food had become more expensive, 55.2% said they had bought less fish and 50.2% less meat. Both were more commonly cited than cuts to non-essential goods, reported by 39.3%.
Households also reduced purchases of fruit, cited by 24.7%, eggs by 21.7%, vegetables by 14.6% and milk by 10.1%. The research was published in Triodos Bank’s third study of sustainable behaviour among Spain’s population.
Cost limits greener choices and food waste persists
Across Spain, 64.2% of people buy ecological, organic or locally produced goods at least sometimes, but only 16% do so regularly. A further 35.8% said they never or almost never buy such products.
High prices were identified as the main obstacle by 58.5% of respondents. Lower prices were the most widely supported measure to increase purchases, selected by 49.2%, followed by public support for farming at 20.5% and stronger regulation at 12.3%.
The survey also found that 44.4% of people in Spain said food is wasted in their household. Poor meal planning was the most common reason, at 40.5%, followed by food passing its expiry date at 31.6%.
Food waste was reported by 57.6% of 18-to-25-year-olds, compared with 29.8% of over-65s. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food put food waste in 2024 at 1,125 million kilos or litres.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com