Limited margin in North Macedonia did not free up products
Minimal or no reduction in product prices – this was the response of the majority of citizens surveyed by ALSA when asked if they felt changes in product prices, after the government’s measure to limit the gross profit margin for over 1000 products came into effect.
The decision came into effect two months ago.
“We haven’t saved anything, nothing. Prices are the same, nothing has gone down, they may have just gotten more expensive. Peppers are the same price, onions, potatoes 40, there is no discount at all. Nothing has been reduced, milk is the same, everything else is the same, there is no chance, with 20 thousand you can’t do it,” said a citizen.
“How much have you saved with that measure? – Nothing, nothing, no savings. It’s hard to make ends meet on 400 euros a month,” said another citizen.
“Small pensions, expensive everywhere, hard work. Prices need to be lowered, the market is expensive, tomatoes 150 denars, cucumbers 150 denars, they are not bought,” emphasized a citizen, reports KosovaPress.
The measure covers milk, bread, flour, eggs, cooking oil, meat, sugar, milk and dairy products, vegetables and fruits, as well as some hygiene products. The State Market Inspectorate says that the government’s decision to limit the gross profit margin by producers, distributors and traders is being respected and there is a reduction in prices. However, they cannot tell us how many inspections they have carried out in the past period, and how many markets have been fined. They told us that they will provide this data tomorrow. On the other hand, the market inspectorate says that even today inspectors are carrying out intensive inspections in supermarket chains.
The decision to limit the margin to at least 10 percent came into effect after citizens boycotted markets for two days due to high prices, and inspectors found margins between traders and distributors of over 50 percent. The government’s decision to limit the margin will last until the end of this month.