Skopje, 20 August 2024 (MIA) - A family of four in North Macedonia needed Mden 61.199 to cover the minimal consumer basket in August, which is an increase of Mden 629 compared to July, said the Federation of Trade Unions (SSM) on Tuesday.

The minimal consumer basket has risen by Mden 4.036 in the January-August period, and Mden 4.677 since the implementation of the new calculation methodology, i.e., from December 2023 to August 2024.

“The minimal consumer basket data shows that living expenses are rising despite the lack of wage increases. There is no justification for this, and no one is trying to prevent it while it makes the citizens, the workers and pensioners poorer. The data from the minimal consumer basket should solve the dilemmas of all those who think the wages of the workers are the biggest culprit for the rise of inflation, i.e., the rise of living expenses. Only by raising wages can the living standard of the workers be preserved, which is why their demands for higher wages are justified,” SSM said.

Photo: MIA Archive