Coupon hunting saves a few percent. Buying in the right quarter can save considerably more, because the categories moving in 2026 are moving for identifiable reasons with predictable timelines.
Buy now: energy-intensive goods
European gas has climbed roughly 120% since the start of 2026, with winter forecasts moving toward €60/MWh from €45/MWh and some analysis suggesting over €100/MWh may be needed to divert LNG from Asia.
Glass and primary aluminium are among the most energy-intensive products there are. Stock currently on shelves was made at lower energy cost than the next production run.
This covers glassware, cookware, framing glass and similar.
Wait: hedged commodities
Cocoa futures sit roughly 67% below their December 2024 peak, yet US chocolate prices were still about 14.4% higher in early 2026 than a year earlier — because manufacturers hedge years ahead and were processing inventory bought at higher prices.
That relief arrives on a delay measured in quarters. Discounts now are retailer promotions, not pass-through.
Olive oil shows the same shape: Greek prices fell 12.09% between January and March 2026, but a bottle that cost €15 in 2020 is €40.
Buy on sale, never on schedule: tariff-exposed durables
Tariffs on Chinese components reach up to 145% in some categories; roofing materials face 10% to 60%. Cabinets, steel and appliances carry exposure.
These discount predictably because retailers are working against a raised base rather than inventing a promotion. Appliances in particular have no reason to be bought on a contractor’s timetable.
The rule that applies everywhere
Compare unit price. When input costs stay high, the common response is less product at the same price. Price per 100g or per litre is the only comparison that survives shrinking pack sizes.
Note the sizes of things you buy regularly. A remembered baseline catches what a one-off comparison cannot.
Where storage pays
Larger formats carry meaningfully lower per-unit cost where storage allows — olive oil in three-to-five-litre tins is the clearest example, and metal protects the product better than a clear bottle.
Do not extend this to perishables. Spoilage costs more than the movement you are avoiding.
Inflation is uneven, and it is uneven for reasons you can look up. That is the whole advantage.
