Eurostat: Cyprus third most expensive EU member in consumer electronics

Cyprus is among the most expensive countries in the European Union in consumer electronics, while prices are ranging EU below average in alcoholic beverages and tobacco and personal transport equipment.

According to a Eurostat news release issued on Thursday, price levels for consumer goods and services differed widely across member states. The price level indices for consumer goods and services was divided into the following sections, food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, clothing, consumer electronics, personal transport equipment and restaurants and hotels.

Price level for consumer goods and services in Cyprus reached 90 per cent of the EU27 average, while in Greece it was 94%. The highest price level was recorded in Denmark with 141% of the EU27 average followed by Ireland 127% and Finland 125%.

In consumer electronics, a group of products where prices differed less among member states, Cyprus scored the third highest with 120% and Malta ranking first with 126% of the EU average. The lowest prices for these products were found in the UK (86%) while in Greece the figure was 113%.

Price levels for food and non-alcoholic beverages in 2008 ranged from 67% of the EU average in Bulgaria to 147% in Denmark. Cyprus had a level of 106%.

For alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices were lowest in Romania 61% and highest in Ireland 184%, while in Cyprus prices were 98%.

Clothing is one of the groups of products showing the smallest price variation among member states. The UK (83% of the average) was cheapest and Finland with 123% of the EU average, was the most expensive for clothing. Cyprus had a price level of 101%.

As far as personal transport equipment is concerned, the most expensive country was Denmark with 174% and Romania the cheapest with 84%. The Cypriot indicator was 99%.

For restaurants and hotels, price variations were more significant with prices levels ranging from 40% of the EU average in Bulgaria to 151% of the average in Denmark. Cyprus was 103%.