Cheese, fish, veg and gas see biggest price hikes in past month

Milk, cheese, and some key veg are amongst the goods to have recorded the highest prices increase in the last month with tomatoes up by over 200 per cent from €1.05 per kilo to €3.17 per kilo.

Certain types of cucumbers were up by 170 per cent from €1.29 per kilo to €3.47. Potato prices have risen 23 per cent since the start of the year to over €1.00 per kilo by February 9.

The data, compiled by the consumer protection service as of February 9, showed that all eight types of milk catalogued increased in price – ranging from 2.3 per cent at the lower end to 5.1 per cent at its highest point.

The price of yoghurt generally increased across the board although not as much as milk, while Alambra’s ‘I giagia’ 700gr container decreased in cost by 10.4 per cent.

Many cheeses also notched a hike with one type of Valio Edam slices up by 9.1 per cent.

The price of all eight types of fish surveyed increased with mullet taking the top spot at 8.4 per cent, followed by seabass at 7.7 per cent and octopus at 6.5 per cent.

The cost of a ten-kilo gas bottle rose by 9.4 per cent.  In January it cost €14.54 and in less than a month it had risen to €15.90.

Local coffeemaker Charalambous saw its 200g and 500gr packets increase in price by 8.9 per cent and 8.5 per cent respectively.

Of the six types of bottled water surveyed, the price of five fell but a six pack of 1.5lt Kykkos bottles was up by six per cent.

Packaged sliced hams generally fell, with Chrysodalia’s 200gr pack of turkey breast down by 7.1 per cent while others saw more modest declines. The same company’s 300gr pack of sliced bacon was up 2.2 per cent.

The survey was based on goods identified in 38 big and small supermarkets across Cyprus.

Only four days ago drivers were warned by the consumers association to expect continued price rises at the pump. It said that petrol 95 has notched a 0.308 cent per litre increase compared to January last year. Projections estimate a rise of ten cents per litre compared to the previous when January’s final figures come in.

The general consumer index recorded 0.5 per cent decrease for January compared to December 2021 but that inflation rose 5.4 per cent year-on-year.

On Thursday, the European Commission predicted that inflation would rise further in Cyprus in 2022 by 2.6 per cent, before it moderates to 1.2 per cent in 2023, indicating even more price hikes over the coming 12 months.