Stable Pricing Despite Seasonal Discounts
The cost of the New Year’s table in Cyprus has remained largely unchanged, even as minor discounts on select items such as tomatoes and cucumbers have surfaced. According to Mario Drousiotis, President of the Cyprus Consumers Association, these minimal price cuts have not significantly altered the overall expenditure for festive meals.
Detailed Cost Analysis for a Range of Tables
A comprehensive study conducted by the Association in Nicosia revealed that a “luxurious table” comprising 34 items cost approximately 160 euros for a family of four and 227 euros for a family of six. In contrast, an “economical table” featuring 19 items was priced at 98 euros and 129 euros, respectively. For lower-income households, a selection of 11 products from the 34 required was estimated to cost only 33 euros for a family of four and 49 euros for a family of six. Notably, these figures reflect a 9% increase compared to the previous year.
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Methodology and Regional Considerations
The research was strictly carried out in prominent supermarkets in Nicosia, ensuring price consistency by using the same chains as in previous studies. Drousiotis emphasized that in the provinces there were no voluntary submissions and that the four major chains examined are known to set uniform prices across Cyprus.
e-Kalathi App: Unmet Expectations and Limited Participation
Drousiotis also scrutinized the performance of the e-Kalathi application. He has called on the Consumer Protection Service to release an accountability report on the app’s performance to date. The application, which initially promised coverage of 3,000 products, now displays only 478—a stark discrepancy when supermarket chains offer between 8,000 to 10,000 product codes. Moreover, participation by a major supermarket chain was limited to just 15 out of 60 days during the October–November period, with only 120–125 products available, and a complete absence of involvement from December 17 to 29. A separate chain managed to list 135 products in October.
User Engagement and Future Outlook
The data, according to the President, clearly indicate that consumers are not being adequately served. User adoption also remains abysmal, with nine out of ten users failing to return to the app. Drousiotis publicly urged the relevant authorities to ascertain whether the application succeeded or failed after six months of operation, and to identify how many of the 10,000 initial users continue to utilize it.
In summary, while minor price adjustments offer little reprieve in overall festive costs, a digital solution intended to empower consumers has yet to live up to its promise, raising wider concerns about transparency and efficacy in consumer support tools.
