Skopje, 25 December 2024 (MIA) - If vendors don’t demonstrate greater social responsibility and reduce the prices of basic food products that aren’t a part of the “New Year’s consumer basket” measure we will introduce more rigorous measures such as capping profit margins and prices, Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi said at a press conference Wednesday.

At the press conference, Durmishi said the State Market Inspectorate’s teams are on the ground and are analyzing the movements of the prices over the past three months. After the analyses are complete, the Government will decide whether it will introduce more rigorous measures, the Minister said.

"I would like to urge all stakeholders - producers, distributors and vendors, to demonstrate the social responsibility they spoke of when we created this measure - the New Year's consumer basket - upon their proposal. I urge them to amend the prices of those products that are most needed during this holiday period," Durmishi said.

The Minister said the measure was initially successful, however the prices of products that aren't included in the measure were increased despite notices to stakeholders to avoid doing this.

The Government introduced its “New Year’s consumer basket” measure in early December in an attempt to reduce the prices of food products by around 10 percent ahead of the holidays. However, citizens note that there have been no significant drops in prices as a result of the measure, while the prices of basic food products such as flour, cooking oil and eggs have risen. The measure is in place until January 15. 

Photo: MIA