Durmishi: Fuel price increase will affect other prices, but inflation is stable for now
The minister says regional fuel prices remain low and authorities are monitoring markets; inflation slowed to 2.3% in July but several food items continue to climb.
Minister of Economy Besar Durmishi said that although an increase in the global price of oil is being announced, North Macedonia still records some of the lowest fuel prices in the region and inflation remains stable for the moment.
Durmishi: monitoring the chain and ready to intervene
Durmishi explained that the ministry and the State Market Inspectorate are analysing the market and performing controls across the entire supply chain to detect any unjustified price rises by traders. He warned that if “deviant behaviour” is found authorities will act as they have in past episodes.
He also linked fuel costs with food prices, saying higher fuel prices naturally increase production and distribution costs for foodstuffs and that the ministry will use available administrative instruments to intervene if gross profit margins rise without justification.
Durmishi announced upcoming meetings with retailers to review a request from them to be allowed again to return unsold products past their expiry dates, and said the ministry will first assess the traders’ real losses from unsold goods before deciding.
Meanwhile, official statistics show a slowdown of annual inflation to 2.3% in July, but many food items still posted stronger price growth: meat +6.6%, milk and eggs +4.4%, cooking oil +6.75% and bottled water +3.2%, the State Statistical Office calculated.
Durmishi added that the so‑called “school basket” measure is already in force and that the State Market Inspectorate will begin field inspections from Monday to verify that traders have respected the measures and reduced prices on school supplies where required.
Photo: press material from the event
