Cyprus Banks Set To Ease Lending Criteria Amid Rising Credit Demand

by News Editor

March 7, 2025

The financial landscape in Cyprus is witnessing a pivotal shift as banks gear up to relax lending criteria for the first time since the global financial crisis of 2009. According to a Central Bank survey, there is an anticipated surge in credit demand as lending terms become more accommodating.

An Economic Revival?

With the service sector showing booming growth in 2024, the January 2025 Bank Lending Survey points towards a more lax approach in borrower assessments. This marks a significant change from the previously stringent conditions that have persisted since 2017 for household loans and even earlier for business loans.

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The fourth quarter of 2024 observed a decline in interest rates and reduced bank margins across various loan types. This trend aligns with banks’ perceptions of diminished risk within the economy, leading to competitive lending strategies particularly for business and mortgage loans.

Mixed Signals For Loan Applicants

Interestingly, while rejections of business loan applications fell—for both small-to-medium enterprises and large corporations—the rejection rate for household loans inched upwards, despite an overall easing of lending terms.

For past accolades in the banking sector, check out how the Bank of Cyprus was honored with JP Morgan’s Quality Recognition Award for its exceptional service.

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EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

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Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.

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