Products raised prices before joining Greece’s “voluntary price cuts”

Greek households continue to face high prices, and a voluntary supermarket agreement appears to be offering consumers little relief. A MEGA investigation found that some products were raised in price before being placed under the initiative’s reduced-price labels.

The investigation identified products whose current “reduced” prices exceeded their earlier prices. A four-pack of natural juice rose from €3.68 on July 10 to €4.68 on Aug. 21, before being listed at €4.35. Filter coffee increased from €7.35 on July 22 to €8.65 the following day, then appeared at €8.22 under the scheme. Rice and baby diapers showed similar patterns.

Consumer Workers’ Union officials also found products that became more expensive after entering an offer. Rigatoni pasta rose from €0.95 to €0.99, dishwashing liquid from €3.89 to €4.05, and fabric softener for 82 washes from €4.70 to €4.85.

Consumers also complained that shelves did not clearly show when products entered the offers or provide a reference price. That makes it harder to calculate the actual discount. Eurostat data showed Greek inflation rising to 3.7% in August from 2.7% in July. Heating oil for annual consumption of 1,000 liters would cost €1,750 at €1.75 per liter, €660 more than last year. Natural gas rose from €42.50 per megawatt-hour on July 1 to €71 on Sept. 1.