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Kosovo Competition Authority: Unjustified price increases during holidays are prohibited

2025-12-16 14:46:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kosovo Competition Authority: Unjustified price increases during holidays are

With the approaching end-of-year holidays and increased demand for products and services, the Kosovo Competition Authority appeals to all businesses and economic operators to refrain from any unjustified price increases.

The Kosovo Competition Authority has called for respect for the Law on Protection of Competition and a ban on any unjustified price increases during the year-end holidays.

The call published on the AKM Facebook page states that any agreement, coordination or unilateral action between businesses that has the purpose or effect of artificially increasing prices, dividing the market, restricting competition or abusing a joint dominant position constitutes a serious violation of the Law on the Protection of Competition and is subject to legal sanctions.

It is further stated that from the beginning of December until the end of this year, all Competition Authority inspectors will be in the field every day, carefully and continuously monitoring price movements and increases in the market.

"With the approaching end-of-year holidays and the increasing demand for products and services, the Competition Authority appeals to all businesses and economic operators to refrain from any unjustified price increases, in violation of the Law on the Protection of Competition," the AKM's call states.

It further states that the year-end holidays should not and will not be used for consumer abuse, coordinated price increases or practices that violate free and fair competition in the market.

"Prices should reflect real market conditions and not prohibited agreements, speculative behavior or exploitation of a joint market position," the call states.

The AKM has called on businesses to act in full compliance with the Law on the Protection of Competition, to avoid any form of price fixing or coordinated behavior, not to abuse their joint position or market power, and to show responsibility towards citizens and consumers.

The AKM has called on consumers to report any suspicion of unjustified or coordinated price increases, so that the Authority can take the necessary legal action.

Prices of "Made in Kosovo" products, according to data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS) published at the end of November, have increased by 5.5 percent during the third quarter of this year, compared to the same period a year ago.

According to ASK, the largest price increase was recorded in the economic activities of motor vehicle production - by 23 percent, electricity (20.8 percent) and textile production (14.2 percent).

In addition to these, ASK has also counted other products whose prices have increased compared to the third quarter of 2024.

"Processing of pharmaceutical products and preparations increased by 8.1%, manufacturing of clothing 7.9%, manufacturing of furniture 7.8%, printing and reproduction of recorded media 7.0%, manufacturing of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (products or manufacturing activities not included in any specific category of the classification vj) 5.1%, manufacturing of electrical equipment 5.0%, water collection, treatment and supply 5.0%, processing of food products 3.1%, manufacturing of paper and paper products 2.9%, manufacturing of wood and of wood and cork products, except furniture: manufacturing of articles of straw and plaiting materials 0.9%, manufacturing of non-metallic mineral products 0.4%, manufacturing of chemical products 0.1%".

Yesterday, former deputy minister in the Kurti I government and economics doctoral student Edison Jakurti released data on the drastic decline in purchasing power in Kosovo, illustrating through figures how inflation has devalued citizens' money in recent years.

Through a published analysis, Jakurti has explained the essential difference between nominal value (the number on the banknote) and real value (what you can buy with that money).

According to the economic expert, although on paper 100 euros always remain 100 euros, the increase in prices has caused their real value to drop significantly.

Year 2014: With 100 euros in 2019, we could buy goods and services worth 105 euros.

Year 2025: 100 euros from 2019, today have the purchasing power of only 78 euros.

"In 2025, 100 euros from 2019 are worth only 78 euros. He said that what we bought for 100 euros in 2019, in 2025 costs us about 128 euros."

According to him, inflation has significantly eroded purchasing power in Kosovo over the last 3-4 years.

"In 2014, with 100 euros of 2019 we could buy goods and services worth about 105 euros. In 2025, 100 euros of 2019 is worth only 78 euros. What we bought with 100 euros in 2019, in 2025 costs us about 128 euros." /MONITOR