Rising Food Prices Lead to Costly Celebrations
As families across Cyprus prepare for Easter festivities, they are met with a stark economic reality. Consumers are facing the most expensive Easter in at least five years, as food prices have soared, placing a heavy burden on household budgets. The Cyprus Consumer Protection Service has provided data that paints a concerning picture for those looking forward to indulging in traditional Easter foods.
A comparison with 2019 prices shows that consumers could pay 50% more for traditional Easter foods this year. This significant hike in prices is a result of multiple global issues. Persistent supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, the ongoing war in Ukraine, rising interest rates, and instability in the Middle East have all contributed to the sharp increase in food costs.
The impact is clearly seen when examining the cost of 12 widely consumed Easter staples. Items such as lamb, pork, chicken, and the traditional Cypriot pastry ‘flaounes’ have seen a cumulative rise of 48.65% over the past four years. The price for these items has escalated from €76.17 to €113.32. Specifically, small, locally-reared lambs, a centerpiece for many Easter meals, now average €12.43 per kilogram—a staggering 96% increase from €6.34 in 2019.
Similarly, minced pork has not been spared from the upward price trend. It now sits at €6.06 per kilogram, up 69.27% from its 2019 price of €3.58. Even the price of traditional flaounes has risen sharply; the savoury version now costs consumers an average of €13.27 per kilogram, marking a 56.29% increase since 2019.
The data underscores the broader issue of
