Lenten bread bucks general price trend
Invoking the need for «social responsibility» at a difficult time for consumers, Deputy Development Minister Giorgos Vlachos yesterday heralded a drop in the price of bread, including lagana, the unleavened bread eaten in the countdown to Easter, whose price will drop 16 percent to 2.50 euros this year compared to 3 euros last year. «Because times are hard, the time has come for each of us to shoulder our portion of social responsibility toward fellow citizens,» Vlachos said after meeting unionists representing bakers. Vlachos noted that the price of bread had already dropped at many bakeries but said the phenomenon could become widespread due to a drop in the price of flour. But unionists note that although flour costs have fallen, other costs have risen. Nevertheless many Athens bakers have reportedly cut their prices to as little as 60 cents a loaf.
