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Cyprus Inflation Climbs To 4% In June As Euro Area Price Growth Moderates

Cyprus’ annual inflation accelerated to an estimated 4% in June 2026, widening the gap with the euro area, where price growth continued to ease, according to flash estimates released on Tuesday by Eurostat.

Domestic Prices Move Higher

Consumer prices in Cyprus increased by 0.8% compared with May, based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), as inflationary pressures gathered pace across the domestic economy.

That contrasted with the broader euro area, where annual inflation is estimated to have slowed to 2.8% in June from 3.2% in May, extending the bloc’s gradual disinflation trend.

Cyprus Moves Further Above The Euro Area Average

The latest figures leave Cyprus well above the euro area’s average inflation rate, highlighting a divergence between domestic price developments and those across the single currency bloc. While inflation continued to moderate in much of the eurozone, price growth accelerated on the island.

Across the euro area, energy remained the largest contributor to inflation, posting an annual increase of 8.7% in June. Although still elevated, that represented a slowdown from 10.8% in May.

Services inflation also eased, falling to 3.2% from 3.5% a month earlier.

Food And Industrial Goods Show Softer Growth

Price growth moderated in several other categories as well. Inflation for food, alcohol and tobacco slowed to 1.6% from 1.9% in May, while non-energy industrial goods remained unchanged at 0.9%.

A Sharp Reversal From Spring

June’s reading marks a notable shift from earlier in the year. In March, Cyprus recorded one of the lowest inflation rates in the European Union at 1.5%, reflecting relatively subdued price pressures at the time.

Since then, inflation has accelerated as the impact of the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region, particularly through higher energy costs, has become increasingly visible in consumer prices.

With annual inflation now reaching 4%, Cyprus has moved well above the euro area average, suggesting that imported cost pressures are playing a growing role in domestic inflation.

Cyprus Employment Rises 1.7% To 525,167 In Q2 2026

Cyprus employment increased 1.7% year over year to an estimated 525,167 people in the second quarter of 2026, according to the state statistical service, Cystat. Employees accounted for 472,254 of the total, while 52,913 were self-employed. The increase points to continued labor market growth across both wage employment and independent work.

Trade, Construction And Leisure Lead Employment Growth

Wholesale and retail trade, including motor vehicle and motorcycle repair, recorded some of the strongest employment gains, alongside construction and arts, entertainment and recreation.

Those sectors are closely linked to domestic economic activity, with trade reflecting consumer demand and construction reflecting investment. Employment growth in leisure-related industries also points to continued activity in consumer-facing services.

Hours Worked Rise Faster Than Employment

Labor input increased faster than headcount. Cystat estimated that employees and other workers put in 246.57 million hours during the second quarter, up 2.2% from a year earlier.

The increase suggests that businesses were not only employing more people but also recording higher total hours worked. Wholesale and retail trade, construction, and arts, entertainment and recreation again recorded the strongest gains.

Labor Market Expansion Remains Broad-Based

The combination of higher employment and hours worked points to continued expansion in Cyprus’ labor market during the second quarter. The pace remains moderate, but gains across several major sectors indicate that labor demand continued to support economic activity.

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