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Cyprus Inflation: Key Shifts In 2024 Consumer Prices

Inflation in Cyprus stood at 1.8% for 2024, according to the latest figures from the Statistical Service. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year saw a modest increase compared to 2023, reflecting subtle but notable shifts in specific economic categories.

In December 2024, the CPI edged up by 0.10 points, reaching 118.31 points from 118.21 points in November. On an annual basis, inflation for December accelerated to 2.6%.

Noteworthy Category Changes

Among the most significant annual shifts, Agricultural Goods recorded a dramatic increase of 16.8% compared to December 2023. Month-on-month, the same category also saw a 2.6% rise, highlighting its continued volatility.

Other prominent contributors included Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, which rose by 7.6% year-on-year, and Restaurants and Hotels, up by 4.4% over the same period. On a monthly basis, Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages also led the way with a 0.7% increase in December 2024.

For the full year, the Restaurants and Hotels category exhibited the most substantial change, growing by 5.4% compared to 2023.

Driving Forces Behind the CPI

The categories that contributed the most to the annual CPI increase were Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (1.69 units) and Restaurants and Hotels (0.45 units). Conversely, Clothing and Footwear exerted the most significant downward pressure, subtracting 0.21 units from the index.

On a month-to-month basis, the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages category had the greatest influence, contributing 0.16 units to the CPI increase.

Drilling down further, Fresh Vegetables emerged as the leading driver of the December 2024 CPI, with a positive impact of 0.90 units compared to December 2023. Catering Services (0.45 units) and Meat (0.23 units) also played significant roles. However, Potatoes acted as a drag on the index, contributing -0.17 units to the monthly change.

A Closer Look at Inflation’s Roots

Cyprus’s relatively low inflation rate in 2024 masks nuanced economic pressures. Rising food and hospitality costs are shaping consumer experiences, while agricultural price fluctuations add complexity to the inflation narrative. These trends underscore the evolving landscape for both consumers and businesses as the nation heads into 2025.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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