In the first 11 months of last year, the cost of having a four-legged friend was around €1,000, that is, around €90 per month. Already in the same period this year - from January to November - the expense was 1205 euros, which is equivalent to almost 110 euros per month.

According to Dinheiro Vivo, among all the expenses associated with having a pet, the increased cost of food is what is weighing most on budgets. The price of pet food has increased in the last year, according to Jaime Piçarra, secretary general of the Portuguese Association of Compound Food for Animals (IACA). And he details: "For food for cats the increase stood at 25% and for dogs 30%".

This has led to a drop in feed sales of around 5%, due to a reduction in demand. At the same time, consumers are buying cheaper ranges, rather than premium options, reveals Dinheiro Vivo.

Jaime Piçarra predicts that "without concrete measures in 2023, and given that we are going to have high inflation, uncertainty, and volatility, the prospects are pessimistic for next year". This, and because, according to the indications that the IACA receives from the companies, they are not reflecting in the sales price the entire increase in the price of raw materials.

"In general, these costs are being incorporated, but the others, such as energy, fuel, transport or financial charges are being incorporated by around 75%, with margins clearly decreasing", says Jaime Piçarra. Allied to all these constraints is the strike by workers in port administrations, which started on the 22nd.

This raises criticism from the IACA secretary general: "In an inconceivable way, minimum services for unloading food bulk have not been defined, which will lead to delays in the unloading of ships and increased supply costs."