Greek shoppers can expect further relief from rising prices as the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection prepares to expand its list of discounted essential goods.
Sotiris Anagnostopoulos, Secretary-General for Commerce, announced that the list could include up to 600 items by the end of November, building on existing reductions already applied to 362 product categories.
This initiative, launched in response to inflationary pressures, aims to ease the financial burden on Greek households. Many products have already seen price cuts ranging from 5% to 20%, with an average reduction of 10-12%.
The discounts, encouraged by Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos in August, apply to products in the same quantities as before, ensuring genuine savings for consumers.
Mr. Anagnostopoulos stressed that the focus is on providing real value, not misleading reductions through smaller package sizes.
New regulations mandating clear unit pricing (per kilogram, liter, etc.) further empower consumers to make informed choices and compare prices accurately.
The updated list is expected to feature more olive oil products, reflecting a gradual decrease in prices following the recent harvest.
"Consumers will notice olive oil prices easing as the latest harvest reaches stores," Mr. Anagnostopoulos confirmed, noting that this trend is evident in both local and international markets.
To ensure these price reductions are maintained and prevent unfair price hikes, Greece has implemented some of the strictest consumer protection measures in the EU.
These include a cap on profit margins, substantial fines for violations, and public naming of companies that engage in price gouging.
Mr. Anagnostopoulos highlighted these efforts, stating that Greece now boasts "one of the most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for consumer protection."