Supermarket: 1.59% increase in product prices in March

An increase of 1.59% on supermarket prices in March 2025 compared to March 2024 shows a survey by the Consumer Goods Retail Research Institute (IELKA). Also, a total of the rolling 12 months (April 2024-March 2025) is down 0.27%, while in the first quarter of 2025 an increase of 0.76%.

In particular, IELKA’s survey revealed that inflation in supermarket chains is in the order of +1.59% in March 2025 compared to March 2024.

The increasing trend recorded in March 2025 compared to March last year, despite the decrease in the relevant index is due to the low comparison of the previous year.

In total, the 12 -month -olds (April 2024 -March 2025) records a decrease of -0.27%, while in the first quarter 2025 records an increase of +0.76%. It is noted that the prices of March 2025 compared to the previous month of February 2025 are reduced by -0.19%.

IELKA: Products with the highest price reductions

Higher price reductions in 12 months are recorded in the categories:

• Detergents and cleaning items: -5.66%
• Foods and Nuts for Pets: –3.65%
• Grocery Foods: -2.58%
• Stationals, Cosmetics & Personal Hygiene: -1.99%
• Ready Meals: -0.31%

The largest reductions were recorded in detergents and cleaning items, pet foods and grocery foods due to the price decline in olive oil. The reductions recorded are the result of both market normalization after pandemic and producer prices in some products, IELKA said.

IELKA: Products with the highest price increases

Larger increases in 12 months are recorded in the categories:

• Cookies, chocolates, sugar: +12.20%
• Appetizers, Alipey and other served items: +6.96%
• Fresh fish and seafood: +5.99%
• Breakfasts and drinks: +5.77%
• Fresh meats: +5.67%

As noted in the announcement, international cocoa and coffee prices certainly affect the categories of sweets and drinks, as well as the category of breakfasts, which includes many chocolate species. In terms of seafood increases, it is the result of pronunciation and demand, with open seabing and fish farming sufficient to meet demand. Compared to fresh meats, this is an expected development due to a decrease in animal capital in 2024, due to animal diseases in most areas of the province.

Increase prices in most products

Of the 23 categories of 5, 5 were reduced, 16 increase and two were unchanged.

Evolution of 23 categories 3/2025 vs 3/2024

IELKA speaks of a tendency to widely retain product prices in supermarkets, adding that this is attributed to the following reasons:

• Inflation Defense. Prices are retention in the last twelve months in large grocery stores due to large volumes of products that are moving, economies of scale, their organizational-technological readiness and private label products.
• The course of raw material prices in recent months in international markets and market normalization. International raw food indicators (eg FAO FOOD PRICE INDEX) record an increase in the mid -2024 in most cases. In cases such as coffee and cocoa, however, the effect is more intense.
• Government institutional interventions. Supermarket chains operate in a strict institutional framework (eg prohibition of promotions in the event of ratings 6969/2024). In March, the new Code of Conduct for Promotions is implemented.
• Offers and discounts. Offers and discounts on the organized retailement channel are more in number, in intensity and percentage discounts, which affects the final prices of the products.
• High traffic speed. Price retaining appears much faster in large points of sale due to higher stock speeds. That is, they move their stock faster and soon make new markets to replenish stocks.
• Effect of private label products. Private label sales shares are larger in large supermarket chains due to a widest range of code, and over the last two years they have been increasing.