Skyrocketing costs: noticeable price hikes observed across a variety of pharmacy items, including deodorants and hair sprays - prices of others remaining steadfast.
Drugstore Goods: Skyrocketing Prices or Hidden Bargains?
Shopping basics have turned into luxuries in some cases, as prices for drugstore items have surged significantly over the last few years.
Take toothpaste and hairspray, for example. These items have seen startling price spikes, with some hiking up by over 80 percent.
Yet, not all drugstore items follow this trend. Some demonstrate a decrease or deflation in prices.
Price hikes have become an unwelcome constant, noticeable in everything from food sales to fuel prices. Even personal care and household items, traditionally the cornerstone of drugstore offerings, have become economical dilemmas in recent times.
So where exactly are these sky-high price jumps concealed? Market research institute smhaggle and my-valueshopping GmbH have investigates on our behalf, analyzing data for your convenience.
Axe Bodyspray: 66.7%
Axe bodyspray stands out as a costly surprise, with a 150-milliliter spray now priced at 4.25 euros - a 1.70 euros increase since January 2022, as revealed by smhaggle and my-valueshopping data. This represents an inflation rate of 66.7%.
This increase exceeds the general inflation in the deodorants and roll-ons sector, which has been around 44% since January 2022, according to Federal Statistical Office data. Axe, with its advertising promises of charisma, stands out on the market as an item under extreme price pressure.
Taft Haarspray: 61.2%
Taft hairspray has also experienced price escalations. The popular styling product in the hold level five and 250 milliliters version costs 61.2% more in May of this year than in the comparison year 2022. This means a 1.50 euros hike at the checkout, making the current price 3.95 euros.
Encouragingly, the price surge at Taft seems to be abating recently. After consistent price rises since January 2022, the hairspray has stagnated since March of this year, according to our data.
Colgate Total Zahncreme: 86.5%
Colgate total toothpaste holds the dubious distinction of showing the highest price increase in the collected data for this article: Today, a 75-milliliter tube costs 3.45 euros, a 86.5% rise since 2022. Notably, this rate is more than double the market average (around 43%) in the toothpaste segment, according to Federal Statistical Office figures.
Only Nivea shower gel in the 250-milliliter bottle has shown a similarly steep price increase, with an inflation rate of 81.5%, as per smhaggle data. It now costs 2.45 euros instead of the original 1.35 euros.
With these price hikes, you may be wondering: Are there any items from the drugstore shelves that are becoming cheaper?
Listerine Mundspülung: -6.1%
Indeed, there are. The Cool Mint mouthwash from Listerine is a pleasant surprise amid these price records. Boasting a deflation rate of -6.1%, or a decrease of 6.1%, the oral care product's price has dropped since 2022. By May 2025, it will cost 3.99 euros - down from the previous 4.25 euros.
This article, however, can't change the fact that prices have been spiraling. For a typical drugstore purchase in May of this year, you're paying an average of 30.3% more than at the beginning of 2022, adding an extra 9.04 euros to your bill.
This calculation is based on prices from Edeka, Rewe, Kaufland, Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Penny, Norma, DM, and Rossmann, considering the dominant shelf price in each case.
Enrichment Data:
Insight:The German e-pharmacy market is experiencing growth due to increasing online shopping and competitive pricing. However, pharmaceutical companies continue to push for higher prices, citing perceived undercompensation in Europe.
International price comparisons often show that drug prices in countries like Canada and Germany are notably lower than in the U.S. This has sparked discussions about the fairness of these pricing models.
During periods of economic turmoil, the purchasing power of consumers may lead to increased demand for essential items, resulting in inflated prices. It's essential for consumers to remain informed about pricing trends to make efficient purchasing decisions.
As the high cost of drugstore items continues to worry consumers, some home-and-garden products may provide a contrast. Inflation in the home-and-garden sector has been relatively moderate compared to personal care and household items. For instance, Listerine Cool Mint mouthwash exhibits a deflation rate of -6.1%, making it one of the few items in the drugstore becoming cheaper. This shift in pricing illustrates the importance of being mindful of lifestyle choices, as not all products are subject to the same inflation trends.
