Overview Of March Price Trends
Price pressures intensified in Cyprus in March 2026, driven by increases in oil-related and agricultural products. Data from the Observatory of Basic Consumer Goods show food inflation rising to 3.8%, up from 2.7% in the previous month. The increase reflects broader geopolitical pressures, including developments in the Middle East that continue to affect supply chains and input costs.
Key Inflation Metrics
Oil products recorded a monthly increase of 9.1%, while agricultural goods rose by 6.1%. On an annual basis, agricultural products increased by 13.3%, followed by services at 2.5% and oil products at 2.3%. Electricity and water prices, in contrast, declined by 13% over the same period. Data were collected from daily pricing across 400 retail outlets in Cyprus, covering 250 essential goods. Price increases were recorded in 33 categories, while 12 categories showed declines.
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Among the strongest monthly increases were:
- Frozen fish: +13.9%
- Processed meats: +10.1%
- Evaporated and sweetened milk: +8.1%
- Pre-grilled frozen fish: +7.8%
- Juices: +7.3%
- Canned meats: +7.1%
Additional upward pressure was observed in bottled water, gas cylinders, frozen burgers, soft drinks, fresh vegetables, oils, and frozen pasta products.
Price declines were recorded in:
- Canned fish: -12.8%
- Fresh fish and seafood: -11.0%
- Rice: -9.0%
- Cheeses: -3.3%
- Pulses: -2.9%
Smaller decreases were noted in bread, tissues, toilet paper, and biscuits.
Detailed Category Changes
Monthly increases continued to reflect strong volatility in food categories. Frozen fish rose by 13.9% month-on-month and by 21.7% compared to March 2025. Processed meats increased by 10.1% monthly and 9.5% annually, while juices recorded a 7.3% monthly rise and 11.1% year-on-year growth. Fresh vegetables and greens increased by 4.6% in March, but showed a sharper 22.6% annual rise, indicating sustained pressure on fresh produce. At the same time, several categories showed continued declines. Fresh fish and seafood dropped by 11.0% in March after rising 3.7% a year earlier, while rice fell by 9.0%, extending its downward trend.
E-Kalathi And Consumer Insights
Data from the Consumer Protection Service confirm a gradual rise in overall inflation, which reached 1.2% in March 2026, up from 0.1% in February and 0.5% in January. The e-Kalathi platform shows that, as of April 15, 2026, the price gap for a basket of 257 essential items narrowed to €122.42 from €131.61 in the previous month. Among major retailers, “Filippos” recorded a total basket cost of €1,136.26, while “Athiniotis” offered the lowest price at €1,013.84. Consumers are encouraged to use the e-Kalathi platform and mobile application to compare prices and manage household spending more effectively.
