Nicosia, Cyprus. Food prices in Cyprus are again rising faster than wider inflation, according to a report by Trojan Economics, adding pressure to household purchasing power. The analysis said the gap between overall inflation and food price growth widened again in the first four months of 2026.
Report findings
The report was written by Trojan Economics director Panayiotis Agisilaou and partner Stavros Efthymiou. The Cyprus-based firm said public debate on the cost of living often centres on inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, which tracks the average change in prices across a broad basket of goods and services.
Focus on food prices
The report said the daily reality for households is shaped more directly by the prices of basic consumer goods, particularly food. It added that examining the individual components of inflation can provide a clearer picture of the pressures facing consumers.
Index comparison
Trojan Economics highlighted the “Food and non-alcoholic beverages” category of the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which tracks changes in the prices of basic food items and allows for a more focused assessment of their impact on household budgets.
According to the analysis, a comparison of the general price index and the food and non-alcoholic beverages index up to April 2026 showed that the gap between the two had opened up again.
Recent trend
In the second half of 2024, food prices rose faster than general inflation, before the difference narrowed during 2025. The report said this changed in the first four months of 2026, when food prices once again recorded a higher growth rate than the general price index.
Household impact
“This development is particularly important for households, as food is a basic necessity,” the analysis said. Trojan Economics added that demand for food is relatively inflexible, both in terms of price and income.