Skopje, 22 October 2024 (MIA) – A family of four in North Macedonia needed Mden 61,249 to cover the minimal consumer basket in October 2024, which is a decrease of Mden 57 compared to September 2024, which was 61,306, said the Federation of Trade Unions (SSM) on Tuesday.

“It is crucial to highlight that the government’s measure to cap margins has yielded part of the desired results. However, due to traders’ greed for profit, which the state must control, they raised the prices of all products upon learning of the government’s intentions regarding this measure. This is supported by the increase in the food and beverage section, which rose by over Mden 717 in September. In October 2024, the food and beverage costs amounts to Mden 22,069, compared to Mden 23,034 in September 2024, reflecting a decrease of Mden 965,” as stated by SSM.

They argue that this confirms the need for prices to continue falling, and that any increase has no connection to economic logic or common sense. Rather, they claim it is solely linked to the growing greed that is becoming more apparent in Macedonia.

SSM believes that the government should include the union when creating measures to enhance their effectiveness. This is particularly relevant given that, in the latest measure, 47 out of 70 product categories were sourced from the trade union minimal basket prepared by the SSM, which monitors price changes each month since the start of the year.

According to the SSM, there is a need for stronger controls, and if necessary, fines should be imposed on unscrupulous traders, who unjustly enrich themselves at the cost of workers and citizens.

Photo: MIA archive