Prices in Cyprus stores continue to rise, while diesel in Paphos remains the most expensive

Prices for everyday consumer goods included in the e-kalathi electronic monitoring system continue to rise in Cyprus. This was reported by the Cyprus Consumers Association, noting that during the first half of May alone, price increases affected 182 product items in 31 product categories.

According to the association's data, prices increased by 1% to 9%. The most notable price hikes were recorded for dried fruits, fruit and vegetable juices, fabric softeners, frozen pasta products, baby food, frozen vegetables, olive oil, and wet wipes for children.

At the same time, the organization points out weak competition among most supermarkets participating in the e-kalathi platform. According to the association, only a small number of retail chains truly compete on price, while in other stores, differences in the cost of goods remain too high.

A separate study of 370 products in one of the supermarket chains operating seven stores showed that prices there significantly exceed the average market level. In individual cases, the difference reached 91%.

Simultaneously, the association presented data on diesel fuel prices by regions of the country. The highest average price was once again recorded in Paphos — 1.856 euros per liter. This is followed by Limassol — 1.833 euros, Famagusta — 1.823 euros, and Nicosia — 1.822 euros. Larnaca remains the cheapest region for diesel, with an average price of 1.820 euros per liter.

The study also showed significant differences in prices even between petrol stations of the very same company. The most noticeable variation was noted in Paphos — up to 5.6 cents per liter. Experts explain this not only by the cost of purchasing fuel but also by the level of local competition between filling stations.