Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced that food prices have decreased, even according to the consumer basket calculated by a trade union. He made these remarks during a parliamentary session for parliamentary questions, highlighting the impact of the government’s measures on the cost of essential goods.

Mickoski pointed out that the trade union’s consumer basket, which had been absent the previous month, showed a decrease of 2147 denars, or slightly less than 9%, in April compared to February in the food sector. He attributed this decrease to the measures adopted by the government, which were set to end on April 30. He emphasized the need for detailed market analysis and monitoring to prevent traders from engaging in excessive profiteering during challenging times.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the development of a new consumer basket in collaboration with various institutions, including the Ministry of Economy and Labor. This basket will include seasonal products and average prices from multiple markets. The government’s consumer basket is expected to be made available to the public and trade unions for review once completed.

Addressing concerns about market behavior, Mickoski expressed shock at the practices of some traders, particularly regarding the publication of prices. He stated that the government would develop software to prevent abuse of price transparency measures in the future, enabling citizens to easily compare prices across different markets. He cited an example of a chain that published 17,000 articles and simply attached the list to the website without properly using the measure.

Mickoski also commented on the dialogue with trade unions, suggesting that some messages from one organization appeared to be more politically motivated than focused on trade union issues. He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing cartel-like associations and entities that dictate prices and margins, ensuring fair practices in the market. He emphasized the government’s good will in taking action to benefit citizens, including measures to limit distribution and trade margins, and to promote price transparency.