Greek Ministry of Development disputes cost of living data

Circles within the Greek Ministry of Development have issued a sharp response to Theoni Koufonikolakou, spokesperson for the Greek Left Coalition (ELAS), accusing her of presenting inaccurate data regarding the rise in prices of basic goods between 2019 and 2026.

The Ministry contested specific inflation figures cited by ELAS, claiming they contradict official data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). According to the Ministry, while prices have indeed risen due to the pandemic and international conflicts, the percentages reported by ELAS are false. Specifically, the Ministry stated that milk prices rose by 23.8% rather than 58.8%, olive oil by 30.6% instead of 111.1%, and coffee by 43.1% rather than 72.7%.

In their statement, Ministry circles compared the political rhetoric to the SYRIZA era, asserting that "bad habits do not break." They also noted that during this same period, the minimum wage has increased by 40% and market violation fines have reached their highest levels in decades.