The number of products listed on Cyprus’ e-Kalathi price monitoring platform has been steadily decreasing for four consecutive months, according to the latest analysis from the Cyprus Consumers Association (CCA), sparking concern over the tool’s effectiveness and transparency.

Based on 478 tracked product codes, the CCA found that as of 31 October 2025, only 200 common products were available across three of Cyprus’ largest supermarket chains—Sklavenitis, Athienitis, and AlphaMega. This marks a sharp decline from 267 in July, 260 in August, and 234 in September.

The Association warns that if all nationwide supermarkets were included, the number of comparable products would fall to just 76. “This ongoing decline limits consumers’ ability to compare prices effectively and raises questions about the completeness of the platform’s data,” the report notes.

While some chains maintain relatively stable listings—Sklavenitis (461 products), Athienitis (399), and AlphaMega (371)—others lag behind significantly. Lidl and Pop Life list only 117 and 170 products respectively, offering consumers far fewer options within the e-Kalathi system.

“The limited participation of certain supermarket chains restricts consumer choice and undermines the platform’s purpose as a comprehensive price comparison tool,” the CCA stated.

The October review also revealed that price differences between supermarkets continue to shrink. The total cost of the 200 common products stood at €823.92 for Sklavenitis, €836.45 for Athienitis, and €873.91 for AlphaMega—a gap of just €50.

In July, the price divergence between the most expensive and the cheapest supermarket was 13%; by October, it had fallen to 6%.

While this could reflect heightened competition due to the e-Kalathi’s transparency, the Association cautions that further investigation is needed to determine whether the change stems from price reductions by costlier supermarkets, price increases by cheaper ones, or a mix of both factors.

For the first time, price differences were detected between stores of the same supermarket chain, a phenomenon not previously observed. The CCA describes this as “a worrying development that requires in-depth examination.”

CCA president Marios Drousiotis emphasized that all findings are based solely on e-Kalathi data and reiterated the need for full and consistent participation from all supermarkets to ensure accuracy and transparency.

“The effectiveness of e-Kalathi depends on the completeness and reliability of the information provided by supermarkets,” said Drousiotis. “We will continue to monitor price trends transparently, for the benefit of consumers and the integrity of the market.”