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E-Kalathi’s Discount Dilemma: Genuine Savings Or Mere Illusion?

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 4, 2026

Conceived as a tool to reduce grocery prices, e-kalathi has come under intense scrutiny as its practical utility diverges from its original promise. Despite its objective to deliver tangible savings to consumers, recent analyses reveal that several supermarket chains may be leveraging the platform more for advertising appeal than for providing real discounts.

Misleading Price Comparisons

Recent findings by the Cyprus Consumers Association indicate that even seven months after its launch in June 2025, e-kalathi has fallen short in meeting its stated goals. The data suggest that the platform may create a distorted picture of pricing, misleading consumers to believe one chain offers the lowest prices overall. In practice, the display of selectively discounted items can lead to erroneous perceptions about a supermarket’s overall pricing structure.

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Flavor-Specific Price Discrepancies

One example involves a children’s yogurt dessert. A strawberry flavor appears on e-kalathi at a lower price, while other flavors of the same product are not listed. This can suggest broader savings even though the discount applies only to one variant. Notably, only a few retailers, such as Athinaeitis and Ioannidis, maintain uniform pricing across all variants, bolstering customer trust through consistent pricing practices.

Promotion Compliance Under The Microscope

Concerns also extend to promotional campaigns. According to the Cyprus Consumers Association, offers such as “1+1 free” are sometimes presented in a way that may not clearly reflect the actual unit price. Under current regulations, if a product is listed at €3, the promotional unit price should not exceed that amount. In practice, some retailers appear to adjust list prices without immediately updating or removing the promotion, which can create confusion for shoppers.

Cases such as detergents incorrectly labeled under “1+1 free” promotions highlight broader questions about price transparency. The discussion around e-kalathi’s operation has therefore focused on the need for clearer pricing rules and more consistent promotional practices among supermarkets.

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EU Services Production Grows As Information And Communication Lead

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 10, 2026

Services production continued to expand across the European Union in August 2026, with information and communication recording the strongest annual growth. However, performance varied significantly between industries and member states, while Cyprus reported a mixed picture, with business services expanding and hospitality-related activities declining.

Information And Communication Leads Sector Growth

Compared with August 2025, services production increased by 5.9% in the euro area and 5.8% across the EU in information and communication. Transportation and storage also recorded growth, rising by 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.

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Real estate activities increased by 1.6% in the euro area and 1.1% in the EU. Professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 1% in both areas, while administrative and support services advanced by 1.1% and 1.3%.

Accommodation and food services was the only major sector to record an annual decline, falling by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU.

The monthly figures were more mixed. Information and communication remained the strongest performer, increasing by 1.2% in the euro area and 1% across the EU. Real estate activities rose by 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while transportation and storage edged up 0.1% in the euro area but declined by 0.2% in the EU.

Administrative and support services recorded modest gains of 0.2% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU. Accommodation and food services fell by 0.3% and 0.4%, while professional, scientific and technical activities declined by 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively.

Slovakia And Greece Record Strongest Annual Growth

Romania recorded the largest monthly increase in services production, at 5.2%, followed by Malta at 1.8% and Portugal at 1.7%. Luxembourg experienced the steepest decline, with output falling by 5.1%, followed by Bulgaria at 2.3% and Denmark at 1.9%.

On an annual basis, Slovakia led with growth of 10%, followed by Greece at 9.3% and Malta at 7.5%. Hungary recorded the weakest performance, with services production declining by 5.6%. Denmark fell by 5.3%, while Italy recorded a smaller decrease of 0.3%.

Cyprus Sees Growth In Business Services But Weakness In Hospitality

Cyprus’ latest figures show a similar divide between expanding business services and weaker hospitality-related activities. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), professional, scientific and technical activities recorded the strongest annual growth among the covered sectors in the second quarter of 2026, increasing by 3.4%.

Transportation and storage and information and communication both grew by 2.1%, while real estate activities rose by 1.6%. In contrast, accommodation and food services declined by 3.1% year on year, and administrative and support services fell by 2.2%.

First-half results were more favourable for several sectors. Between January and June, professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 3.5%, transportation and storage by 2.8%, real estate by 2.1% and information and communication by 1.3%.

Nevertheless, administrative and support services contracted by 1% over the six-month period, while accommodation and food services declined by 0.7%.

How Cyprus’ Figures Differ From Eurostat’s Data

The Eurostat and Cystat figures measure different aspects of economic activity and are not directly comparable. Eurostat’s services production index tracks changes in the volume of output, whereas Cystat’s Turnover Value Index for Services and Transport measures the value of sales at current prices.

The reporting periods also differ: Eurostat’s figures cover August, while the cited Cypriot data relate to the second quarter and first half of 2026.

Cystat transmits services production data to Eurostat but does not yet publish a separate national production index. Turnover figures therefore remain the main publicly available national indicator for the sector.

Taken together, the data point to continued growth in several of Cyprus’ business-oriented services, alongside persistent pressure on accommodation, food and administrative support activities.