The inspections will cover, among other products, pasta, frozen pasta, imported frozen fish, ice cream, baby diapers and household cleaning products.
Speaking on the podcast, Iordanou noted that despite geopolitical developments, price increases remain relatively restrained, mainly in food products.
Referring to the e‑kalathi platform, she said that contrary to the figures cited by the Cyprus Consumers Association, price increases have been recorded in 225 products. Of these, 74 products saw increases of 1%–2%, 36 showed no change, while prices fell in 87 products.
Asked whether all price increases are justified, she replied that “in some categories they certainly are.” She pointed to significant increases in coffee, chocolate-based products, chocolates and chocolate biscuits, noting that in recent months there has been a sharp rise in coffee bean prices due to drought in Brazil.
She also highlighted the substantial rise in cocoa prices on the New York and London stock exchanges, driven by drought conditions in Ivory Coast and Ghana. Europe and the global market are facing high raw material prices, which are being reflected in final product prices, she said.
However, in Cyprus there are also increases exceeding 5% or even 10%, raising questions. The service identified these increases from the end of March.
“We waited because there were offers during the Easter period, but price increases continue to be recorded, and we have already scheduled a series of on‑site administrative inspections,” she said.
Iordanou added that supermarkets are regularly inspected to verify that prices listed on e‑kalathi match shelf prices and checkout prices, as well as to ensure proper application of the zero VAT rate.
Suppliers
She noted that inspections of suppliers are carried out less frequently, “only when we consider it necessary.”
“For this reason, we have planned inspections of specific companies and suppliers, whether importers or Cypriot producers, for products that since March, and mainly from mid‑April onwards, are showing significant increases of more than 5% or even 10%.”
In certain categories, such as flour, increases have also been identified by the Consumers Association, as well as in pasta, frozen pasta and imported frozen fish.
“In ice cream we see some very large increases, but also large reductions of up to 10%,” she said. “There are specific product categories, such as baby diapers and household cleaning products, which we will examine through administrative checks of invoices, expenses and related data.”
Inflation at 2.8% in April
The inspections are taking place at a time when inflation in Cyprus is accelerating.
According to data published yesterday by the Statistical Service, inflation in Cyprus rose to 2.8% in April, up from 1.2% in March, mainly due to a sharp increase in fuel prices.
The largest annual increases compared with April 2025 were recorded in petroleum products (18.3%) and agricultural products (9.6%), while the biggest decline was seen in electricity and water (-7.9%). Compared with March 2026, the sharpest increase was in petroleum products (12.6%).
Compared with April 2025, the biggest changes were observed in transport (8.2%), clothing and footwear (-5.3%), food and non‑alcoholic beverages (4.8%), recreation, sports and culture (4.2%) and educational services (3.7%).
Compared with March 2026, the largest changes were recorded in transport (8.3%), clothing and footwear (5.2%) and housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels (1.4%).
Analysis of impacts in index points
The largest positive contribution to the change in the CPI in April 2026 compared with April 2025 came from restaurants and accommodation services (3.11 points), recreation, sports and culture (2.82) and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (1.85). The largest negative contribution came from health (-2.61), information and communication (-1.61) and clothing and footwear (-1.14).
The largest impact on the CPI change in April 2026 compared with March 2026 was seen in transport (1.23), clothing and footwear (0.32), housing, water, electricity, natural gas and other fuels (0.17), while food and non‑alcoholic beverages had a negative impact (-0.11).
Recreation services recorded the largest positive contribution to the annual CPI change, while mobile communication services had the largest negative impact.
Fuels and lubricants (0.72) had the biggest positive impact on the monthly CPI change, while vegetables (-0.20) had the biggest negative impact.
The geopolitical dimension
According to Iordanou, geopolitical developments alone can justify certain price increases. She explained that higher energy costs since March raise transport costs, production costs in Cyprus and domestic distribution costs, particularly for a small, open economy that is heavily dependent on imports of raw materials and finished products.
As a result, some product price increases are unavoidable, she said.
Free market and e‑kalathi
“We operate in a free market. Supermarkets have the flexibility to price as they wish, depending on their costs,” she stressed, citing operating expenses, advertising costs, administrative costs and desired profit margins.
“That is why the e‑kalathi platform is so important. Transparency creates pressure, both to reduce operating costs and ultimately profit margins.” She added that e‑kalathi provides consumers with price comparison tools and has achieved its goal of encouraging competition and exerting downward pressure on prices.
Misleading image by the association
During the podcast, Iordanou responded to criticism from the Consumers Association regarding e‑kalathi, accusing it of presenting a misleading picture by comparing non‑comparable supermarkets.
According to Iordanou, the association “places itself on the opposite side”, choosing to publicise its views instead of discussing them with the service.
“I believe it does not contribute to our effort, even though the ministry provides financial support to consumer associations to assist in this collective endeavour,” she said, adding that the service remains open to dialogue to clarify any issues or concerns.
