Skopje, 24 September 2024 (MIA) - The Government's decision to limit the gross profit margin for some of the basic food products has been published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of North Macedonia" and as of Tuesday, citizens are to benefit from the effects of the so called autumn market basket.  

The decision is valid until October 31, 2024, and it includes 73 basic food products as part of the autumn market basket measure which will be clearly labelled in the markets with lower prices throughout the effective period. 

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Tuesday he expects compliance with the measure.

"The measure takes effect today and I expect a reduction of at least 10 percent," said the PM.

As regards reactions from the citizens that some of the markets have raised their prices before the decision on the autumn market basket was passed, Mickoski said that any speculative, immoral and unethical behaviour will be sanctioned.

The Government passed the decision at the proposal of a working group made of representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Labour, the Ministry of Finance and the Agriculture Ministry. 

Economy Minister Besar Durmishi told a press conference last Friday that 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.  

According to the Government, the autumn market basket includes products that are most used by the citizens, whereas the opposition said 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. 

Photo: MIA archive