Greece faces food inflation and meat market shifts

Consumers in Greece are facing persistent inflationary pressures despite national initiatives to reduce supermarket prices. Investigations show that price reductions on many products are falling short of the 5% target, often ranging between 2% and 4.9%. Furthermore, some retail chains implemented price increases in the preceding two months, meaning some goods remain more expensive than they were at the start of summer.

The meat market is experiencing significant volatility. While pork prices remain stable or slightly decreased due to high European supply, beef prices may rise due to EU restrictions on Brazilian imports. There are also shortages and high prices for Greek lamb and goat resulting from animal mortality and business closures.

In the broader European context, Greece remains a dominant producer of goat meat, holding a 34% market share in the EU. The country also ranks third in sheep meat production, accounting for 15% of the EU market. Despite these strong positions, overall European production is declining, leading to high prices. For instance, the price of heavy lambs has seen a yearly increase of 4.5%, while light lambs remain at high price points.