The government has extended the food price freeze until April 30, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday evening.
The ministry quoted Minister István Nagy in his announcement, who said that the government extended the food price freeze until the end of next April due to the protracted war in Ukraine and the inflation caused by the sanctions caused by the failed measures in Brussels.
The head of the ministry emphasized that due to the failed Brussels sanctions, energy prices and thus food prices have risen to historic highs throughout Europe, and the oil sanctions that came into effect only worsened the situation even further. The government remains committed to supporting families, which is why it maintains the food price freeze. According to the ministry, István Nagy emphasized that the price caps work, because customers buy more of the products that they can get cheaper.
According to the data of the AKI market price information system, more of the products with a price cap were sold this year compared to the same period in 2021.
The largest increase of 81 percent can be observed in the case of 2.8 percent UHT milk, while the consumption of other products with a price cap also increased by more than 25 percent. Flour has been sold by 27 percent, sunflower cooking oil by 44 percent, chicken breast by 34 percent, and boneless pork leg by 46 percent so far this year compared to the same period last year.
The increase in quantity may also be due to the fact that customers are stocking up on these products, but at the same time, the minister called attention to conscious shopping instead of hoarding.
According to the announcement, István Nagy explained: in addition to the price cap, it must be ensured that fixed-price products are available.
To this end, it was determined that traders are required to sell the average daily quantity of the affected products in 2021, compliance with which, together with other regulations regarding the price cap, will be checked by the general consumer protection authority, i.e. the county and capital government offices with the involvement of the National Food Chain Safety Office.
The agricultural ministry will continue to monitor the developed market situation, maintain contact with interest representatives, and future decisions regarding price caps will be made with full caution, taking into account the development of the market situation and the needs of the population - István Nagy was quoted in the announcement.
Source: MTI
Photo: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
