The economic expert raises the alarm/ "Prices are increasing abusively"

2024-02-14 17:37:00, Ekonomi CNA

The economic expert raises the alarm/ "Prices are increasing

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As after two years, inflation has suffered the strongest decline, prices continue to rise. The latest data from INSTAT show that in January inflation reached a rate of 3.4%, however, the same did not happen with prices, as food increased by 5.3%.

The economy expert, Romina Radonshiqi, in an interview for CNA TV, with journalist Fabjona Pasho, raises the alarm that prices are increasing abusively.

She emphasizes that the Competition Authority must take immediate measures, conducting checks if there is abuse of prices.

"We still have a very big problem with inflation for basic products, double-digit inflation. Traders have increased profit margins, abusively, because a lower price should have been reflected. Knowing the psychology of the price, they have reduced these products by a price minimal, or they have not lowered them at all. At this moment it is difficult for traders to reflect the price reduction, when they have not reflected it until now. The Competition Authority will have to investigate some products if there are abuses."

According to Radonshiq, certain categories, such as pensioners, encounter difficulties in affording basic living products.

Economy expert, Romina Radonshiqi

"It hits vulnerable groups, which are people on financial assistance, pensioners, and even those families with below-average incomes, who find it very difficult to make ends meet."

Radonshiqi appeals to the government to subsidize farmers, who have recently protested due to the remaining stock of products.

"In 2024, we have also seen the budget that does not have enough funds to get agriculture out of this situation. Even the IPARD projects that have been suspended, it is a problem that if it did not exist, maybe agriculture would advance more. Farmers they don't find a sales market, because the products that come from the import are at more competitive prices than the domestic product. It is up to the government to intervene with subsidies, with easing policies, maybe even restrictive policies for imports, in order to favor the domestic product."

Among other things, Radonshiqi spoke about the taxation of freelancers, as well as the lack of proper orientation of young people in the labor market, which increases the unemployment rate and encourages emigration./ CNA TV