Large increases in the prices of fresh vegetables, sugar and fish were recorded in December compared to the previous month, according to the Price Observatory of the Consumer Protection Service. At the same time, decreases in the prices of flour, frozen molluscs and fish and oil were recorded.

According to data from the Observatory, in December out of a total of 45 categories of basic products, 17 categories recorded an increase compared to November 2025, 26 categories recorded a decrease compared to November, of which 13 categories decreased compared to the previous year, while another 2 categories did not change (legumes and canned meat).

Specifically, an increase compared to the previous month was recorded in fresh vegetables and greens by 23% (-30.3% compared to December 2024), sugar 9.6% (1% compared to December 2024), fresh fish and molluscs by 8.1% (-2.7% compared to December 2024), frozen fish by 7.2% (7.4% compared to December 2024), frozen burgers by 2.8% (25.3% compared to December 2024) and cheeses by 2.7% (-2.1% compared to December 2024).

Infant milk also increased by 2.2% (4.9% compared to December 2024) and sausages by 2.2% (1.2% compared to December 2024).

On the other hand, a decrease compared to the previous month was recorded in 26 categories with the most important being flour by -9.3% (-1% compared to December 2024), frozen molluscs/shellfish by -9.3% (+1.1% compared to December 2024), oil by -8.6% (+1% compared to December 2024), frozen breaded and pre-cooked fish by -7.8% (-19% compared to December 2024), baby food by -4.7% (+8% compared to December 2024), juices by -3.7% (+2.1% compared to December 2024) and rice by -3.3% (-2.3% compared to December 2024).

A decrease was also observed in the price of fresh meat by -3.2% (-8.6% compared to December 2024), yogurt by -2.9% (-1.2% compared to December 2024), vegetable cooking fat by -2.8% (-4.3% compared to December 2024), frozen breaded and pre-cooked meats by -2.6% (-7.2% compared to December 2024), soft drinks by -2.6% (+2% compared to December 2024) and Cypriot coffee by -2.4% (19.1% compared to December 2024).

The assessment made for the month of December at the Consumer Products Price Observatory "reflects the continued decline in prices, with the annual inflation rate moving throughout the 2nd half of 2025 at deflationary levels, with rates of -0.9% in July and August, -0.7% in September, -0.3% in October, -0.5% in November and -0.5% in December 2025". the Service states in its announcement.

Regarding the data from "e-kalathi", the Service notes that the variation in the number of completely common products in 7 large supermarkets can be seen, which amounted to 228 on 15/10/2025, to 257 on 19/11/2025, to 249 on 16/12/2025 and to 248 products on 15/1/2026, with a continuous increase in the number of products available in most supermarkets.

The ranking of the most expensive-cheapest supermarket remains the same in all four periods. The difference in the value of the most expensive-cheapest basket of products amounted to €140.98 on 16/1/2026 for 248 common products or a difference of 15.1%.

The Consumer Protection Service invites all consumers to visit www.e-kalathi.gov.cy platform and take advantage of the relevant application for mobile devices, in order to take advantage of the tools it provides for more informed and advantageous purchases.

The Service clarifies that price observatories are prepared exclusively for the purpose of informing consumers and in no way constitute advice. They are also not intended and cannot replace the market research that each consumer must carry out on the basis of his own preferences, data and needs, nor are they intended to indicate to consumers the points of sale to choose or specific products.

In particular, it is noted that some of the products included in the observatory suffer from qualitative differences, which cannot be determined. To this end, the Consumer Protection Service urges consumers to do substantial market research before proceeding with purchases, taking into account the results of the observatory.

CNA