To find out how the price of the basic food basket has changed since the beginning of the year, read the review by journalist RBK-Ukraine Alik Sakhno. This information is reported by Contracts.UA.
How basic food prices have increased over the year
Since the start of 2025, the prices of all products in the borscht set have risen. Tomatoes have seen the largest price increase, while beets have experienced the smallest increase, noted Vladimir Ivchenko, the general director of the Institute of Agricultural Productivity "Ukragroprodmultinational." Specifically, as of February 20, products have increased in price as follows:
- Cabbage by 7.8%.
- Table beets by 5.4%.
- Tomatoes by 10.3%.
- Carrots by 5.9%.
The prices for potatoes, onions, and cucumbers have remained nearly at the level of the beginning of the year. There is a slight price increase trend in the following product groups:
- Baked goods: by 1.1-2.0%;
- Pasta and flour: by 2.0%;
- Sunflower oil: by 1.4%;
- Groats: by 0.2-0.5%;
- Dairy products, butter, cheese: by 1.1-3.5%.
However, the prices for some products have decreased or remained at the beginning of the new year:
- Fish and fish products: by 0.7%;
- Chicken eggs: by 9.7%;
- Fresh lard: by 3.3%;
At the start of the new year, prices for pork, sausage products, chicken meat, and sugar remain stable. The rise in vegetable prices at the beginning of the year is attributed to seasonal factors – increased storage costs and significant cold weather that occurred in early February. The drop in prices for certain products is linked to decreased demand in the early months of the year.
Change in the cost of the borscht set over the year
Vladimir Ivchenko notes that as of February 20, 2025, there is an increase in the cost of borscht vegetables compared to prices on February 6, 2024. This is confirmed by data from 48 regional and district markets in Ukraine for key products such as cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, beets, and tomatoes.
In particular, the minimum cost of the borscht set (a portion of 450 grams) as of February 20, 2025, is 18.89 UAH, whereas on February 6, 2024, the average price was 12.43 UAH. This indicates a price increase of 6.46 UAH, or 52%.
According to data from the Institute of Agricultural Productivity "Ukragroprodmultinational," prices for all borscht vegetables have increased compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Specifically, cabbage has risen by 144.6%, carrots by 89.8%, potatoes by 56.3%, beets by 50.5%, onions by 21.8%, and red tomatoes by 15.4%.
Price dynamics in food markets
The trend of rising prices encompasses basic products that are staples in every household's diet. This poses a serious challenge for the population, which consumes these products almost daily. Over the year, specifically from February 6, 2024, to February 20, 2025, there has been a significant increase in the prices of all major food products.
In particular, bread made from premium wheat flour has increased by 15.8% (from 35.33 to 40.90 UAH/kg), rye-wheat bread by 15.5% (from 31.17 to 35.99 UAH/kg), and loaves by 16.5% (from 42.38 to 49.38 UAH/kg).
The average retail price of flour has risen by 20.8%, increasing from 18.68 to 22.56 UAH/kg. Pasta has added 10.9% to its price, changing from 32.09 UAH/kg to 35.58 UAH/kg.
"Prices for bread and pasta are likely to continue rising, particularly due to increasing flour prices, which, in turn, will rise due to the higher prices of grains. Thus, the price of finished products will depend on the dynamics of the prices of their components," – commented Vladimir Ivchenko to RBK-Ukraine.
According to him, the situation with buckwheat looked as follows: in February 2024, its average retail price in food markets in Ukraine was 33.51 UAH/kg. After a steady decline, a gradual increase began in June, and by February 2025, the average price was 37.26 UAH/kg, indicating an annual increase of 11.2%. It is expected that the price increase for this product will slow down.
Rice has also seen a price increase over the year: the price rose from 52.22 to 57 UAH per kilogram, or by 9.2%. A slight increase in the price of this product is also anticipated in the future.
Sunflower oil, which increased by 21.3%, now costs 65.54 UAH/l (its price was 54.02 UAH/l in February 2024). Experts attribute the price rise to the effects of drought in the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, where sunflowers are traditionally grown. Yields in these regions have significantly decreased, and the grain has a low oil content. It is expected that oil prices will continue to rise.
Sugar has increased in price the least over the year – by 2.2%. The average price of sugar in February 2024 was 32.44 UAH per kilogram, while in February 2025, it was 35.54 UAH. Vladimir Ivchenko assures that the sugar produced in Ukraine is sufficient for both domestic consumption and export, so, according to him, significant price jumps are not expected in the near future.
Aggregated data on prices for basic food products, collected by "Ukragroprodmultinational" from 48 food markets in Ukraine, cover 38 main products across regions and throughout Ukraine. Additionally, the cost of a monthly set composed of 32 surveyed basic food products has been calculated, taking regional characteristics into account.
Current prices for products in retail chains
Prices for food products in stores and markets can vary by 10-20%, which is influenced by various factors. The place of sale also plays a significant role in shaping retail prices.
As of February 26, the cost of a dozen chicken eggs C1 in online stores such as ATB, FOZZY, Silpo, Metro, Tochka, Epicenter, and Novus averages 62 UAH. However, it is important to note that the price of each individual product can fluctuate significantly from month to month, considering a multitude of factors. For example, in October 2024, egg prices rose by 18.5%, but by the end of the year, their price had dropped by 17%.
The average cost of a kilogram of other basic products is as follows:
- Potatoes: 27 UAH.
- White cabbage: 45 UAH.
- Carrots: 32.50 UAH.
- Onions: 13-14 UAH.
- Bread costs an average of 23-30 UAH per loaf.
Additionally, prices in stores can vary significantly depending on the locality, as they are influenced by factors such as demographic characteristics, logistics, and the purchasing power of residents in a specific city or region. The distance to suppliers, transportation costs, and the level of competition among sellers can also greatly affect the