It seems that this year's Christmas table will be 5% to 7% more expensive, compared to last year. Prices of meat as well as Christmas delicacies and anniversary sweets show a slight increase according to a survey conducted by the Consumer Protection Service on the retail prices of products.
However, the Christmas table of 2020, with which this year's prices are compared, was cheaper than that of 2019, since the pandemic with the closure of tourism and catering pushed prices down due to unavailable products.
The Consumer Protection Service received samples from 90 points of sale regarding the research on meat prices.
Small increases in all meats
Specifically, this year Turkey has an average price of 5.54 euros per kilo from 5.04 euros last year. An increase that translates to about 9.5%. The lowest price of turkey this year reaches 4.65 euros per kilo while the maximum price recorded is 6.90 euros per kilo.
An increase of 3% is also recorded in the prices of lambs that are traditionally first in the preferences of consumers for the Christmas spit. Specifically, the local small lambs from 8.56 euros per kilo that was last year, this year have an average price of 8.82 euros per kilo. Slightly lower is the price per kilo of the whole lamb which reaches 8.32 euros. The maximum price recorded by the Consumer Protection Service for lambs is 10 euros per kilo, while the minimum is 6.69 euros.
Increases of around 5% are recorded compared to last year in the prices of pork and chicken, while the same and in some cases lower are the prices of beef.
The prices of the dishes are a little higher
Kourabiedes and melomakarona, for which prices were received from 36 points of sale throughout Cyprus, also show an increase of around 6% to 7%. Specifically, the average price of melomakari this year reaches 11.18 euros per kilo (10.53 euros / kilo in 2020) while the chocolate chip cookies 11.22 euros per kilo (10.55 euros / kilo in 2020).
Attention and market research
Important, however, are the differences that can be found in retail prices, depending on the point of sale. According to the announcement of the Consumer Protection Service, "it is emphasized that there are quality differences which can not be taken into account in the results of a Price Observatory". Therefore, the different prices that are found between the points of sale, concern a set of elements, including the quality characteristics that should be taken into account in the consumer market research.
"The prices of meat and anniversary sweets show an expected increase of around 5% to 7%, as a result of the general price increases recorded in all products," the President of the Cyprus Consumers' Association, Marios Drousiotis, told Simerini.
What is happening in recent years and causing some discomfort, is the sharp rise in prices of perishables and vegetables, two - three days before Christmas, said Mr. Drousiotis, adding that "probably something similar will happen this year."
Although there are no complaints about the products that have their place of honor at the Christmas table, the Cyprus Consumers' Association emphasizes that it is good to be careful and before the markets to do market research by consumers.