Filenews 9 June 2025 - by Theano Thiopoulou
Inflation has almost been "cemented", despite the fact that inflation has been steadily de-escalating in recent months and especially in May the consumer price index recorded deflation of -0.2% and it took several years for it to fall from high levels. Prices are difficult to go back five years when there was deflation in the economy, as happened in May 2020 and the sign was -1.5%.
We can say that inflation is falling, but if you compare the price index by going back a little, then the inflation is frightening. How much the prices of basic products have increased cumulatively in the last five years is a crucial question that concerns thousands of consumers, who, according to the common admission of all trade players, continue to buy even the essentials with caution.
Although in recent months the intensity of price increases has not corresponded to that of the previous year, at this stage, it should be taken into account that every additional revaluation that takes place, no matter how small, comes in addition to the previous ones, resulting in a large overall burden.
"Fileleftheros", using the latest available data from the Statistical Service, made the comparison between May 2020 and May 2025. What emerges is that the price increases over the last five years are very serious and have been incorporated for good into the prices of most products, which remain very expensive, regardless of the significant decrease in the rate of price increase, as shown by the current level of inflation. So, if we compare the consumer price index of May 2025 with May 2020, the result shows that the average price increase over the five years was 17.9%, while -even worse- the food price index increased by 19.7%.
Shock from the increases
The price of olive oil on supermarket shelves has hit red and from May '20 to May '25 it increased by 54.1%. But this is not the biggest increase in food items. The big surprise in price increases over the past five years comes from potatoes, with their price rising cumulatively by 76.3% while vegetable prices rose by 37%. According to the data of the Statistical Service, in the five-year period the price of beef and beef increased by 44.2%, of lamb and goat meat by 65.3%, of pork by 29.9%, while in poultry the increase was smaller, 9.4%.
Inflation also affects the price of bread, one of the main food products, with an increase of 23% in five years, rice by 21.3%, while prices of bakery and confectionery products recorded an increase of 21.3%. Dairy products were not spared from the price either. The price of fresh whole milk increased by an average of 16.9% over five years, low-fat milk by 16.5%, preserved milk by 32.5%, yoghurt by 7.1%, cheese by 15.5% and eggs by 33.8%. Fish prices rose by 10.6%, fresh fish by 21.9% and frozen seafood fell by 8.3%.
Prices also up in restaurants
Prices in restaurants, cafes, cafes increased by 26.9% in five years, fast food and take-away services increased by 32.6%, the price of coffee gained over 32.5%, the price of mineral waters, soft drinks and juices is 29.6%.
The price of wine increased by 2.3% in the five-year period, beer fell -0.6%, tobacco increased by 6.3% and cigarettes by 4%.
Apart from nutrition, however, there are other services, the prices of which have caught fire in five years. For example, the price of electricity increased by 52%, LPG (bottle) by 74.6%, diesel by 42.1%, gasoline by 37.8%, spare parts by 21.9%, and tires by 24.3%. The price index of new cars increased by 23.1% in five years, used cars by 20.2%, motorcycles by 9.8% and bicycles by 11.4%.
The price index for garage and parking spaces increased by 10.1%, road passenger transport by 22.9%, international flights by 2.1%.
