Greece’s consumer prices rose sharply in April 2026, with inflation accelerating to 5.4% compared with the same month a year earlier, according to official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Greek Statistics Authority (ELSTAT) on Friday.
The annual rate marks a significant increase from April 2025, when inflation stood at 2.0%.
On a monthly basis, the CPI rose 1.5% in April compared with March. In the same period a year earlier, monthly inflation was flat at 0.0%.
For the 12-month period from May 2025 to April 2026, the average CPI increased by 2.9% compared with the previous 12-month period, which had recorded a 2.5% rise.
Per sector the increases were:
• 4.5% in the Clothing and Footwear group, due to the return of prices to the levels before the winter sales.
• 4.4% in the Housing group, due to an increase mainly in prices in: house rents, electricity, natural gas, heating oil.
• 3.7% in the Transport group, due to an increase mainly in prices in: diesel, motor fuel (gasoline), other fuels, passenger air tickets. Part of this increase was offset by a decrease mainly in prices in new cars.
• 0.8% in the Recreation – Sports and Culture group, due to an increase mainly in prices in leisure services.
• 1.1% in the Hotels – Cafes – Restaurants group, due mainly to an increase in prices in: restaurants-pastries-
fast food restaurants-canteens, hotels-motels-inns.
•1.3% in the Insurance and financial services group, due mainly to an increase in prices in vehicle insurance premiums.
Price decreases by sector:
• 0.4% in the Food and non-alcoholic beverages group, due mainly to a decrease in prices in: poultry, fresh or frozen fish, cheese, vegetables (general), prepared foods. Part of this decrease was offset by an increase in prices mainly in: pasta, pork, lamb and goat, fruit (general).
• 0.4% in the group Durable goods – Household goods and services, due mainly to a decrease in prices in direct household consumption goods.
• 0.2% in the group Personal care – Social protection – Other goods and services, due mainly to a decrease in prices in other personal hygiene and health appliances and products.
Citing sources form the Finance Ministry, capital.gr reported that increases will be more immediate in fruits and vegetables, due to shortages and problems in production, but also in meat, due to large fluctuations in import prices. The positive thing is that cocoa and coffee prices have recently shown signs of stabilization, without anyone being able to guarantee that this will continue for much longer.
Food represents 20% of monthly expenditure for the average household, with this percentage reaching 41% for low-income households, the 4.5% increase recorded in March is the continuation of the price trend that began at the end of 2025, but has not incorporated the major consequences of the crisis. Due to high stocks in processed foods, the average increase did not exceed 4.5%, without incorporating the increase in fuel prices and the large increase in fertilizer prices.
PS I have no idea how ELSTAT collects its data, but I pay more each and every week for my food and basic items purchased at the supermarket.
there are 3 reasons why food inflation in Greece is high.
1.Everything has to get to the islands for people to buy and transport is not cheap
2. the supermarkets and suppliers operate a cartel. There is little if any difference between the main supermarkets
3. Holiday inflation. In my local petrol station the price is bumped 10 cents a litre to squeezt the lastounce of cash out of ourists and locals. we know so we go elsewhere but tourists dont’They even get ripped on coffed often charge 50 cente to 2 euros more that locals