Sources at the Ministry of Development have hit back in strong terms at opposition statements on the trend in prices for staple products, accusing their opponents of using inaccurate figures for price rises recorded in the market between 2019 and 2026.
«ELAS’s lies will not tackle the cost-of-living crisis», they said, arguing that product prices have risen significantly but not by as much as the opposition has claimed.
According to the same sources, a comparison of official data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) for December 2019 and September 2026 shows smaller price rises for several staple products. Specifically, milk has risen in price by 23.8%, not 58.8%; olive oil by 30.6%, rather than 111.1%; and coffee by 43.1%, compared with 72.7% claimed by the other side.
A similar gap is recorded for bread, for which the ministry cites a rise of 33.7%, compared with 60% in the estimate it is disputing. By contrast, ELSTAT data show beef prices rising by 76%, slightly more than the 75% in the other set of figures. Egg prices rose by 43.3%, compared with 55.6%.
Comparing price rises
The table presented by sources at the Ministry of Development shows the differences between the percentages attributed to the opposition and those derived from ELSTAT data:
| Product | Price rises according to ELAS | Price rises according to ELSTAT |
|---|
| Milk | 58,8% | 23,8% |
| Bread | 60,0% | 33,7% |
| Olive oil | 111,1% | 30,6% |
| Beef | 75,0% | 76,0% |
| Coffee | 72,7% | 43,1% |
| Eggs | 55,6% | 43,3% |
The same sources note that the period under review included the coronavirus pandemic and two armed conflicts, factors that affected market prices. They also stress that the minimum wage has risen by 40% since 2019.
The response also refers to market inspections, with the ministry arguing that the fines imposed and collected for breaches of the law are the highest in decades.
The statement concludes with a pointed reference to the opposition, with ministry sources arguing that discussion of the cost of living should be based on official statistical data.