Skopje, 26 March 2026 (MIA) - The Government measures for stabilization of prices and protection of the citizens' standard are producing results, said Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi on Thursday.

Minister Durmishi told a Q&A session in Parliament that the global shocks will undoubtedly reflect on the domestic market, while adding that the state has responded in a timely manner by reducing the oil VAT from 18 to 10 percent, while boosting monitoring of food prices.

He said the State Market Inspectorate has deployed 30 mobile teams that carry out an oversight of the entire supply chain, with no extreme price hikes recorded thus far.

"We are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate an unfounded rise of prices or profit margins. We will respond once we receive reports of arbitrary hikes," said Durmishi.

The Minister added that inflation has dropped in recent months, indicating that economic trends are stabilizing.

"I am not saying the situation is ideal but it is a fact that we have managed to create stability and prerequisites for further growth. We will not allow abuse of the crisis at the citizens' expense," said Durmishi.

SDSM MP Oliver Spasovski, who asked the question regarding the higher prices of basic products, said the minister could easily see that prices of cooking oil, coffee, minced meat, poultry, milk and eggs have gone up in only a week's time.

Spasovski said Durmishi's statement that the country has the lowest gas prices in the region is not a fact, since diesel in Slovenia costs EUR 1.52 while the price in Macedonia stands at EUR 1.55.

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