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Sharp price increases, reaching as high as 28%, have been recorded for lamb, goat, and beef in Cyprus, according to new data from the Consumer Protection Service. The rise comes during current market pressures and ahead of the Easter season, when demand typically increases.
The figures are based on a comparison of prices from April 14, 2025, one week before Easter, and March 17, 2026, across four supermarkets. Smaller cuts of locally produced lamb and goat showed increases ranging from 11% to 28%, depending on the store. Boneless local beef followed a similar pattern, with price increases between 14% and 28%.
Pork prices, however, varied significantly. Some stores recorded a decrease of nearly 10% for certain cuts, while others reported increases of almost 30%.
At the same time, the Service released its February 2026 Price Observatory, which tracks the weighted average prices of 250 essential goods across 400 retail locations nationwide. The data shows mixed trends. Out of 45 product categories, 19 posted monthly increases, while 23 declined. Three categories, instant coffee, bottled water, and toilet paper, showed no change.
The largest monthly increases were seen in fresh vegetables and greens, which rose by 20%, followed by frozen breaded and pre-cooked meats at 16.1%, and fresh fish and seafood at 14.9%. Smaller increases were recorded in liquefied gas cylinders, baby food, broths, frozen burgers, soft drinks, and milk.
Several categories saw notable declines. Frozen shellfish and mollusks dropped by more than 30%, marking the sharpest decrease. Prices also fell for sugar, frozen fish products, cold cuts, and pasta. Additional declines were observed in frozen pasta, canned meat, charcoal, cheese, and laundry detergents.
The report also includes supermarket comparisons using data from the “e-kalathi” digital platform. The number of identical products tracked across seven major supermarket chains increased from 228 in October 2025 to 253 in March 2026. Despite this expansion, the relative price ranking of the supermarkets remained unchanged over that period.
A significant price gap continues to separate retailers. As of mid-March 2026, the difference between the most expensive and least expensive supermarket for a basket of 253 identical products reached €131.61, or 13.2%.
The Consumer Protection Service encourages shoppers to use the e-kalathi platform and its mobile app to compare prices and make more informed decisions. It also stresses that the Price Observatory is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace personal research, since product quality and individual preferences can vary.
