As of August 12, 2026, the Ukrainian food market is witnessing a paradoxical situation: amidst general inflationary uncertainty, prices for a number of basic products are showing surprising stability or even a decline. A monitoring survey conducted by RBK-Ukraine in the country's largest retail chains showed that consumers can expect the affordability of the "social" segment of food products to be maintained.
Bakery Segment: Complete Stasis
One of the main news items of the week is that there have been no significant changes in the bakery products category. Major retailers — Silpo, ATB, Novus, and Auchan — have not revised the prices of social bread items. This has become an important signal for the market, considering that in previous months (for example, in June), sharp price jumps for baked goods were recorded. Maintaining prices at this level indicates that retailers continue to subsidize margins or have the ability to keep procurement prices for flour and energy carriers stable.
Battle for the Buyer: Silpo vs. Novus
In the category of cereals and groceries, fierce price competition has unfolded. The leader in terms of affordability remains the Silpo chain, which maintains the most favorable price tags thanks to an aggressive discount and promotion policy. At the same time, the situation in the Novus chain looks different: there is a shortage of cheap analogues there, forcing buyers to choose a more expensive gluten-free segment. This creates a gap in product accessibility for different social groups depending on specific retail chains.
Food Basket: Eggs, Milk, and Butter
In the category of chicken eggs, the favorites for minimum cost have not changed, indicating a stabilization of logistics chains and production. Milk prices also remain at the level of the beginning of the week (Tuesday), which became possible thanks to ongoing long-term promotions in the chains. The vegetable oil segment deserves special attention: in the category of half-liter bottles of refined oil, Auchan has the lowest price tag, offering consumers the most advantageous deal on the market.
Buckwheat: An Unexpected Trend of Decline
The most noticeable change in August was the sharp drop in the price of buckwheat. After the weekend, prices for this product fell, which was a pleasant surprise for Ukrainians. If previously buckwheat was on the list of products subject to price increases, now it demonstrates the opposite dynamics. This may be due to both an increase in supply in the domestic market and the optimization of supply logistics.
Contradictory Data
Despite the overall positive picture, there are discrepancies in the interpretation of data. On the one hand, RBK-Ukraine notes the stability of bread prices and the decrease in the cost of buckwheat. On the other hand, materials from previous months (for example, from June 23) recorded an increase in bread prices to 15 hryvnias per kg, creating uncertainty regarding the long-term trend. Furthermore, the lack of cheap analogues in Novus contradicts the general trend of price reduction, which requires further monitoring by regulators.
Conclusions for Consumers
As of August 12, 2026, Ukrainian supermarkets offer the lowest food prices among offers from recent months. Consumers are advised to pay attention to promotions at Silpo and Auchan, as well as monitor product availability at Novus, where the assortment may be limited. The stability of bread and egg prices gives hope for the preservation of the population's purchasing power in conditions of economic instability.
