Stable Price Trends Maintain Hold
The latest report from the Consumer Protection Service reveals that consumer prices continue to exhibit stable restraint. According to the monthly Price Observatory, despite varied fluctuations across categories, annual inflation has remained in negative territory for the sixth consecutive month. The analysis, which tracks 250 basic consumer products across 400 retail outlets, confirms that inflation declined from 0.9 percent in July and August to 0.7 percent in September, and finally to 0.3 percent in October 2025.
Sector Dynamics And Price Adjustments
The detailed observatory data highlights distinct trends among product categories. Services, for example, experienced the most substantial year-on-year increase in October at 3 percent, whereas petroleum products and agricultural commodities saw marked declines by 7.5 percent and 2.6 percent respectively. Additionally, electricity prices fell by 2 percent on an annual basis, although a modest month-to-month rise of 1.7 percent was noted. Out of 45 distinct product categories, 33 experienced moderate monthly increases of less than 3 percent, while 11 categories became notably cheaper than in October 2024, with some reductions reaching up to 16 percent.
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Notable Product Price Movements
Within the granular breakdown of product prices, certain items stood out. Evaporated and sweetened milk saw a 6.5 percent rise, while frozen molluscs and shellfish edged upward by 6.2 percent. Instant coffee, fresh vegetables and herbs, infant formula, oil, vegetable shortening, and frozen pasta also recorded increases ranging from 2.1 to 3.5 percent. Conversely, fresh meat dropped by 3.4 percent compared with September and other staples, such as frozen fish, rice, tomato paste, sugar, and canned fish, registered annual declines between 1.1 and 7.1 percent.
Supermarket Pricing Insights And Digital Comparisons
The report further outlines a concurrent initiative that compares supermarket prices for items listed on the e-kalathi digital platform. During the period from October 15 to November 19, the number of identical products across seven major supermarket chains increased from 228 to 257. While the rankings of the most expensive and cheapest chains remained unchanged, the overall basket value rose from €147.05 to €153.68. On November 19, the top-tier supermarket’s basket cost €1,090 in comparison to €936.50 at the lowest-priced competitor.
Consumer Guidance And Strategic Considerations
The Consumer Protection Service advises consumers to leverage the e-kalathi platform and its mobile app for more informed purchasing decisions. It is important to note, however, that while the Price Observatory offers comprehensive data and analysis, it does not substitute for personal market research. Consumers are encouraged to consider qualitative differences and conduct thorough checks in line with their preferences and needs. Detailed data can be accessed directly on the Consumer Protection Service’s website.
