Greek households are bracing for another round of price hikes this fall, with essential goods becoming increasingly expensive despite a strong harvest year.
Data from Greece’s statistical authority show a sharp rise in fruit prices in July 2024, with inflation on fresh produce jumping 19.3% compared to July 2023. Peaches, nectarines, and apricots, for example, now sell for around €3.50 per kilo, compared to €1.50–€2.00 last summer.
“This explosion in prices cannot be justified,” said the president of the Union of Working Consumers of Greece (EEKE), noting that while drought had reduced production last year, this year’s harvest was abundant. “Producers, farmers, and traders are now trying to make up for past losses,” he added.
Products Seeing the Biggest Increases
Beyond fruit, the price hikes are spreading to other key goods:
- Meat and fish have already risen noticeably.
- Coffee and confectionery items are also becoming more expensive.
- The gap between what farmers earn and what consumers pay has widened dramatically, with products sometimes costing up to ten times more on store shelves than at the farm gate.
Why Prices Will Keep Rising
According to Rautopoulos, additional price increases are likely in the coming months. Farmers face higher costs for fertilizers, pesticides, and other supplies, alongside a shortage of agricultural labor. These pressures are expected to drive retail prices up even further into the fall.
For consumers already struggling with high living costs, the outlook is far from encouraging.
