Greece’s fruit and vegetable prices surge, squeezing household budgets

Greek consumers say their monthly wages now cover only the first 20 days of the month, forcing them to cut back on food. Prices for basic produce have risen sharply – pumpkins €1.50/kg in markets, €1.40/kg in supermarkets; cucumbers €1.50/€1.30; tomatoes €1.30/€1.60; beans €2.50/€2.90; apricots €2.90; peaches €2.50/€2.40. As one shopper put it, “We shop less because there is no money.”

ELSTAT data shows price increases of 6.9 % in fruit and 8.9 % in vegetables in March, 7.5 %/7.1 % in April and 3.5 %/4.1 % in May. Market traffic has fallen up to 20 %. In response, the government announced that from 1 July the profit‑margin caps on food and fuel sales will be lifted in an effort to lower prices.