Eurozone Companies Predict Lower Wage Increases For Next Year

According to a recent survey by the European Central Bank (ECB), businesses across the Eurozone are anticipating smaller wage increases over the next 12 months. The study reveals that wage growth is expected to moderate to 3.3%, down from the previous estimate of 3.8% three months ago. This adjustment reflects a broader trend of cautious economic expectations amid ongoing inflationary pressures and financial uncertainties.

Key Findings and Economic Implications

The ECB’s survey, which assesses companies’ access to financing and their economic outlook, indicates a slight reduction in expectations for selling price increases, now forecasted at 3% compared to 3.3% previously. ECB officials are closely monitoring these metrics to gauge the trajectory of inflation and its alignment with the 2% target. The anticipated decline in wage growth is seen as a positive indicator, suggesting a potential easing of inflationary pressures, as a 3% wage increase is generally consistent with the desired inflation rate for consumer prices.

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Despite a general slowdown in overall inflation to 2.5%, the services sector remains a concern, with inflation still high at 4.1%. The ECB warns that companies in this sector expect higher increases in selling prices, labour costs, non-labour input costs, and employment over the next year compared to other sectors. These expectations highlight the continued inflationary challenges within the services industry, necessitating careful policy considerations.

Sectoral and Financial Insights

The survey also sheds light on the financial landscape for businesses. Companies reported more positive developments regarding the availability of bank loans, with fewer firms experiencing restricted financing conditions in the second quarter. Additionally, there was a slight decrease in the demand for bank loans and an improvement in the availability of these loans, suggesting a more favourable financing environment for businesses.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

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.

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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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