Although prices remain stable in most categories, some categories show large increases
Big increases in frozen fish and flour were recorded by the Consumer Staples Observatory of the Department of Energy, Trade and Industry's Consumer Protection Service, according to data released Wednesday.
Although in most categories prices remain stable with small fluctuations, some categories of basic goods show large increases.
Specifically, in relation to December 2022, in January 2023, sixteen categories show a decrease of up to 3%, such as cold cuts, cheese, sugar, bottled water, fresh meat/fish, cereals, bagels, cookies, while from the remaining categories, moderate increases of up to 1%-3% are recorded in 22 and significant increases in 4 categories.
The biggest increase was recorded in frozen fish and amounts to 31.4%. In flour the increase is 6.4%, in frozen molluscs and breaded fish 5.6% and in frozen meat 4.2%.
Furthermore, prices for greenhouse cucumbers increased by 10.3 % and field cucumbers 13.6%. It is noted that most of the increases observed in the remaining categories are not generalized to all products in the category, but to specific brands.
In addition, increases were seen in prices for vegetable shortening by 12.7%, broths by 3-5.5%, while a specific brand of sunflower oil increased by 47.2%. Pasta of a certain brand increased from 6% to 12%. Brand-specific lentils and beans also saw an increase of 8% and 9% respectively.
In coffees, a brand of Cypriot coffee saw an increase of 8.3%, while an instant coffee saw an increase of 9.7%. Two brands of canned tuna saw increases of 8.4% and 9.9%.
A large decrease of 9.5% was noted in the price of sugar in January, while the price of fresh potatoes was also reduced, by 13.7%. A large 16% decrease was also recorded by a specific brand of laundry detergent. Individual reductions of 1-5% exist in various products, however no general reductions are observed in categories, beyond the above.
It is noted that most categories do not show a noticeable change.
In relation to in January 2022 prices in almost all categories remain high. Indicatively, sugar has increased by 70.6%, tomatoes by 48.5%, cheeses by up to 62.5%, oils by 8-84%, fresh meat by 18%, pork belly by 99% rabbit, while infant milk increased by about 15%. A perceptible decrease was observed only in gherkins, with greenhouse ones reduced by 56.1% and field gherkins by 42.8%.
The Consumer Protection Service clarifies that the Price Observatories are prepared solely for informational purposes. of consumers and in no way constitute advice and do not replace the research that each consumer should do.
