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Spanish shoppers have had precious little good news on the cost of living front lately, but there is some relief on the horizon. El Corte Inglés has announced permanent price cuts on 1,300 everyday products, covering everything from oils, milk, cold cuts and canned fish to coffee, chocolates, soft drinks, baby food and pet food.

 

And crucially, the company has been at pains to point out that "this is not a one-off promotion."

 

The move follows the retailer's 'Quality Guaranteed with Fixed Prices' campaign launched last April, which froze the prices of 300 basic products for 90 days. This latest announcement goes considerably further, with 1,300 products from leading brands getting permanent reductions rather than a temporary freeze.

 

According to the National Institute of Statistics, eggs, fresh vegetables, tropical fruits and coffee have all seen some of the sharpest price rises of the past year, and household budgets across Spain are feeling the strain.

 

By focusing the cuts on high-turnover, frequently bought products, El Corte Inglés is aiming squarely at the weekly shop rather than the occasional treat.

 

The company described the decision as "part of an active and ongoing policy of price review, with weekly updates" to ensure its stores remain competitive in each area of the country, striking what it called "a constant balance between competitiveness and quality."

 

For shoppers who've been loyally filling their trolleys at Mercadona and other supermarket chains week in, week out, it might just be worth checking whether El Corte Inglés is now the better deal.

 

Image: El Corte Inglés