National Initiative: 1,735 product codes with price cuts

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis announced on Monday, 31 August 2026, the launch of the «National Price Reduction Initiative», a new cost-of-living measure that takes effect from the same day on supermarket shelves. According to the government spokesperson, the initiative covers 1,735 product codes, with an average price reduction of 9.5% and a range of 5% to 44%, depending on the category and product. «From 31 August 2026, price reductions go on supermarket shelves through the National Price Reduction Initiative», said Pavlos Marinakis, framing the measure within the government’s cost-of-living policy ahead of autumn.

As presented during the briefing, the 1,735 codes are distributed across four product categories. These are 870 branded products with an average reduction of 6.6%, 405 school supplies with a reduction of 12%, 360 private-label products with a reduction of 8%, and 100 meat codes with a reduction of 7.5%. The highest average reduction is recorded in school supplies, which is linked temporally to the start of the new school year. According to the government announcement, the initiative involves more than 100 suppliers, 12 supermarket chains, and 3 toy and school-supplies chains. The initiative is implemented through participating suppliers and chains that have committed to the specified price reductions on the mentioned product codes.

Alongside the new measure for supermarket shelves, the government spokesperson confirmed that fuel subsidies continue into September, at 10 cents per litre, of which 8 cents are the net subsidy and the remainder is the corresponding VAT. The monthly cost of the measure amounts to 30 million euros, while from April 2026 a total of 211 million euros have been spent, as announced during the briefing. The continuation of the subsidy applies to all fuel consumers and not to special categories of beneficiaries, according to how the measure was presented. Issues of cost of living and fiscal policy are systematically monitored by the network’s economy column, where other household support measures currently underway are also recorded.

An extension of the home renovation programme deadline was also announced until 30 September 2026, with a budget of 500 million euros. By Monday, 31 August 2026, more than 90,000 eligibility certificates had been issued, while the programme platform records 380,000 users, according to figures presented in the briefing. The extension provides additional time for those already enrolled or planning to enrol in the programme to complete the required procedures. The government presented the three measures—price reductions, fuel subsidies, and renovation programme—as elements of a unified cost-of-living policy ahead of autumn, without however announcing data on inflation or forecasts for price developments in the coming period.