Greece, a sunny tourist destination, is facing challenging times. The country has been hit by soaring inflation. In 2023, the cost of a Christmas meal is 11% higher than in 2022. Greek households will need to spend between €103 and €140 for 6-8 people. A study by the Institute of Commerce and Services under the Greek Confederation of Trade and Entrepreneurship indicates that this year's Christmas meal costs range from €103.10 to €140.76. The estimate is based on the cost of groceries for a group of 6–8 people. Notably, prices rose by 10.8%–11.4% compared to last year. Greeks celebrate Christmas on December 25th, according to the revised Julian calendar. The main feature of the Christmas meal is a meat dish. Traditionally, dishes in Greece were made from lamb, pork, or beef, but now, like in Western Europe, the centerpiece is often a roasted turkey. Additionally, various salads and pitas are prepared for Christmas. The meal usually includes greens, olives, fruits, and wine. Since 2021, food prices in Greece have risen sharply. The government has implemented measures to stabilize the situation. After a long period of continuous price increases, a relative normalization was recorded. Experts are hoping for a decrease in food inflation in the coming months. The Greek government is making efforts to address this issue. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has repeatedly focused on the rapid price increases and considered runaway inflation as a top priority problem. Currently, many Greek households are grappling with a sharp increase in the cost of goods and services. Mitsotakis notes that the government is focusing all its energy on trying to mitigate the effects of this imported high cost. Previously, during discussions on the 2024 budget, he stated that inflation in November 2023 fell to 3%. A year ago, the Greek authorities introduced the "Household Basket" measure, which was expected to curb the sharp rise in prices. This expectation was partially met. As part of this initiative, it was planned that prices for certain items in the basket would not increase. Additionally, the authorities asked retailers to participate in an initiative to reduce prices by 5%, and many business owners responded positively to this request.
