Róbert Zsigó: the average effect of margin stops is almost twenty percent
As a result of the introduction of the margin freeze, the prices of the 30 basic foodstuffs subject to the measure have decreased by an average of 18.6 percent in four weeks, the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (KIM) announced on Tuesday in the Kossuth radio program Good morning, Hungary!.
According to Róbert Zsigó, since the introduction of the margin freeze barely a month ago, the prices of 872 products have decreased, including 21 products that have decreased by over 50 percent and 103 products that have decreased by at least forty percent, while there are also some that have decreased by 64 percent.
The state secretary drew attention to the fact that the results achieved must be protected, which is why they are constantly monitoring whether traders adhere to the maximum ten percent margin in the affected product categories.
So far, 416 stores have been inspected, and no violations of the law have occurred. Although certain cases are being investigated, it is clear that retail chains are complying with margin reductions
– he highlighted.
At the same time, he said that there are signs that “retail chains will try to get out of this over time”, but that they will not allow this. He stated that the government does not want a war with retail chains, but only wants to curb “unjustified and excessive price increases in the food sector, and we would like retail chains to be partners in this”, he stressed.
Róbert Zsigó also mentioned that the prices of telecommunications services – such as TV, the Internet and mobile telephony – and banking services have also increased in recent months, which is why the government has also started negotiations with them.
Telecommunications companies and banks have also pledged, he said, that they will not raise prices until July 1, 2026, and those companies that have already done so will return their prices to the level of January 1, 2025.
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