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Cyprus Inflation Accelerates To 4% In June As Energy Pressures Emerge Across The Eurozone

Inflation in Cyprus is estimated to have accelerated to 4% in June 2026, up from 3.5% in May, according to Eurostat’s flash estimate, highlighting growing price pressures even as inflation eased across the euro area.

Inflation Continues To Accelerate

Consumer prices in Cyprus are estimated to have risen 0.8% month on month in June, extending the upward trend that has gathered pace since the start of the year.

Annual inflation stood at 1.2% in January before easing slightly to 0.9% in February. It then accelerated to 1.5% in March, 3% in April, 3.5% in May and 4% in June. By comparison, inflation was just 0.5% in June 2025, illustrating how sharply price growth has increased over the past 12 months.

Cyprus Diverges From The Euro Area

The latest estimate contrasts with the broader euro area, where annual inflation is expected to have eased to 2.8% in June from 3.2% in May.

Although headline inflation moderated across the bloc, energy remained the main driver of price growth, rising an estimated 8.7% year on year despite slowing from 10.8% in May. Services followed with annual inflation of 3.2%, while food, alcohol and tobacco increased 1.6%. Non-energy industrial goods recorded the smallest increase at 0.9%.

The figures suggest Cyprus is moving in the opposite direction to the wider euro area, with domestic inflation continuing to accelerate while broader price pressures begin to moderate across the currency bloc.

Shein Targets $25 Billion Valuation In Hong Kong IPO As Growth Slows

Shein is reportedly targeting a valuation of around $25 billion in its planned Hong Kong IPO, a sharp decline from the nearly $100 billion valuation the online fashion retailer achieved in a 2022 fundraising round.

Two people familiar with the plans said the company was likely to target about $25 billion, while another source put the expected range at $25 billion to $28 billion based on the proposed price band.

IPO Valuation Falls Sharply

Shein plans to sell up to 8% of its shares in the offering, according to a person familiar with the plans. At a $25 billion valuation, that would translate into an IPO of as much as $2 billion.

The latest target is also below the $30 billion to $40 billion valuation the company was seeking earlier this month as it began meeting with potential investors.

Founded in China in 2012 and now headquartered in Singapore, Shein sells low-cost clothing to consumers in about 160 countries. The company is expected to launch its long-awaited Hong Kong IPO later this week.

Trade Restrictions Weigh On Growth

Shein’s valuation has come under pressure as major markets tighten rules affecting low-cost e-commerce shipments. The European Union, for example, has moved to impose additional fees on cheap parcels from platforms such as Shein and Temu. EU Tightens Rules On Low-Cost E-Commerce Parcels

In the U.S., the removal of an import duty exemption for small packages has also affected the company. Shein reported a $99 million quarterly loss in the first quarter of 2026 as sales growth slowed, while a one-time accounting charge further weighed on its results. Shein Reports First-Quarter Loss Ahead Of IPO

Investors Question Shein’s Growth Prospects

The steep reduction in valuation reflects growing concerns over slower growth, higher trade costs, regulatory pressure and stronger competition across global e-commerce.

Some investors who reviewed Shein’s recent financial statements or attended IPO presentations told Reuters they were skeptical that the company could return to the growth rates that supported its $98.2 billion valuation in 2022. Shein’s Slowing Growth Tests Investor Appetite

A lower IPO valuation could also affect Shein’s existing investors. Under the terms of its IPO filing, the company may have to issue additional shares to certain pre-IPO investors if its valuation falls below agreed thresholds.

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