Prices for popular Clean Monday and Lenten foods are largely level or lower than last year

Prices for staple goods consumed on Clean Monday and during Orthodox Lent appear to be mostly holding steady or even to have decreased relative to the previous year, based on price-sampling conducted since the “Lent Basket” for lower-priced goods was put into effect in 2024. With development ministry teams on the prowl to ensure the quality and check the prices of goods on offer, inspections showed a decrease on average, relative to prices in 2023.

According to Development Minister Kostas Skrekas, “our goal is to have accessible prices for all. A reduction in prices on average is observed relative to last year. The government’s efforts to reduce inflation, lower prices and to help households are continuing. We will not stop checking for unfair profits, while the structural measures we have taken have already started to yield results.” Farmers’ markets, bakeries and mini-markets will be open on Clean Monday, while some of the larger supermarket chains will also remain open until 14:00. The Varvakio Market in central Athens and the Consumers’ Market in Rendi will also be open from Sunday until Clean Monday afternoon.

The price of ‘lagana’ bread will range from 2.80-3.50 euros for large loaves (750g) and between 1.80-2.00 euros for smaller loaves. In response to complaints that prices for goods in the Lent Basket differed significantly between supermarket chains, Skrekas said that many of these differences reflected genuine cost factors but he also urged consumers to use the ministry’s e-katanalotis platform to compare the price of goods in their local supermarkets and create their own ‘basket’.