Skopje, 10 March 2026 (MIA) - In response to a reporter's question on Tuesday on whether the Government is monitoring the inflation situation and its position on the current situation, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said inflation has dropped below 3 percent and everything should be done to maintain price stability.

"The State Statistical Office announced yesterday the cost of living in February 2026. I have said this several times in my statements, but yesterday it was confirmed that inflation has dropped below 3 percent, i.e. it is 2.9 percent and is again the lowest in the region. I would say one of the lowest, considering that Greece is at 3 percent, Bulgaria is at 3.5 percent, Kosovo, in January as there is no data for February, is at 5.8 percent, Croatia has also already gone above 3.8 percent, Slovakia is at 4 percent, Romania is at about 9 percent... So, all those policies regarding which we asked for patience are slowly but surely showing results," Mickoski said after overseeing the wastewater treatment plant construction in Kuchevishka Bara, Chucher Sandevo Municipality. 

He said he expects this trend to be maintained and continue to go down after a meeting scheduled with distributors and supermarket chains on Wednesday.

"I don't think there is a bigger challenge for all of us than preserving the standard of living of citizens. It may not be enough, considering the bad collective memory of the past, but for less than two years we have tried to stabilize the situation, to stand on our feet and reach a neutral zero, so that we can then pursue development policies and policies that citizens deserve. All the parameters in the economy already say that. If you ask me for my opinion, I believe we should do everything in our power to maintain price stability, considering another fact that retail prices have increased by 1.6 percent, which is below 2 percent, 1.5 percent. This includes the prices of processed food, as well as normal food, such as vegetables, fruits and other," said Mickoski.

He expressed satisfaction with the state of core inflation, which, as he pointed out, "we managed to calm it down and now we need to continue to move further within that range." 

"I believe that this year we will move between 2 and 3 percent, unless something unforeseen happens, which is not up to us. If what is happening in the Gulf lasts, and if it lasts in the direction of causing consequences for humanity and the world, then these are things that do not depend on us. But we closely monitor what depends on us as a Government, we take measures, we are proactive, we control it and we do not allow oscillations that will be to the detriment of the citizens," Mickoski told reporters. 

Photo: Government