Skopje, 21 September 2024 (MIA) - The autumn market basket includes products that are most used by the citizens, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Saturday in response to opposition's criticisms that the margin is being limited for only about 70 products whereas during the time of SDSM measures were adopted to reduce the price of more than 500 products. 

"The autumn market basket is targeted, and it is the result of a survey that was conducted with citizens about the products they use the most this autumn. A similar market basket will be available before the New Year's holidays, there will also be a spring market basket, etc., so the Government's goal is that the measure covers the products that are most used by the citizens," Mickoski told reporters after Saturday's visit to Kavadarci Municipality. 

He said the opposition's criticisms were a vacuous message, noting that during their time the VAT was increased from five to ten percent, and a luxury tax was also introduced. 

The opposition said in a press release on Saturday that the Government's measures are delayed and will not have any real effect on the reduction of product prices and on the standard of citizens. 

"Instead of economic policy, we are seeing a calculating policy of the Government led by Mickoski and total disregard for the standard of the citizens. SDSM in September 2023, for example, adopted measures to reduce the price of more than 500 products in 25 different categories and implemented an anti-crisis package worth EUR 662 million to help citizens. That is a real help. In Serbia, a decision is already being implemented by which reduced the price of over 700 products is reduced, similarly in Montenegro. In addition, for the first time after five years of constant growth, the average wage is being reduced by almost 1000 denars," opposition SDSM said in the press release.  

The Government decided on Friday to limit the gross profit margin to ten percent for a total of 73 basic food products in the so-called autumn market basket. The decision will enter into force the day after it is published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia", and will be valid until October 31, 2024.  

The decision was made based on data from the State Statistical Office, regarding the index of living costs, which show that when comparing August 2024 with December 2023, an increase in food costs by 4 percent was recorded. 

Photo: MIA archive