The tension in the Middle East and the jump in fuel prices dealt a heavy blow to the pocket of the Bulgarian consumer just days before Easter. The traditional Easter meal in our country costs twice as much this year, with the main paradox being that the market in neighboring Greece offers far more favorable conditions for welcoming the holiday.
The bill for the festive lunch shows a drastic discrepancy with last year's values. According to market data, consumers are paying exactly the same amounts as last April, but no longer in leva, but in euros.
"Three salads, three cucumbers and fresh onions cost me 10 euros, and before they cost 10 leva", said Emil Manchev, quoted by bTV.
The situation with meat is even more alarming. The data shows that lamb is experiencing a price shock with a nearly 30% increase compared to previous periods. Although the purchase price of "live weight" is around 7 euros, in the domestic retail network the kilogram reaches 15-20 euros, approaching the psychological limit of 40 leva. The reason lies in the chain of intermediaries and the jump in logistics and feed costs.
Eggs are no exception either – they rose in price by nearly 20% on an annual basis, becoming one of the most tangible symbols of inflationary pressure this spring.
Against this backdrop, thousands of compatriots from the border regions chose to hold their holiday market in our southern neighbors. It turns out that Greek traders offer lower prices not only for meat, but also for vegetables and eggs.
"The prices of products are much lower than in Bulgaria. I came and bought lamb for 11.90 euros, while in Blagoevgrad I found it for 15.50 euros. We bought traditional products - 3 kilograms of meat, lettuce, radishes, a kilogram of cucumbers, 10 eggs and kozunak. "Our bill showed 43.10 euros," says Blagoevgrad resident Vesela.
The situation is similar in our other neighbors, with North Macedonia and Serbia also reporting an increase in the price of food products, although at different rates compared to the domestic market. The end result, however, is clear - Bulgarians will celebrate the holiday with one of the most expensive meals in the Balkans.