Buying items in a large supermarket in Podgorica, whose price levels are monitored by "Vijesti", is today 4,9 euros cheaper than in January last year, so a basket of 15 products costs 45,1 instead of 50 euros at the time. The situation is similar in a small Podgorica store, where these groceries cost 5,3 euros less than in the first month of 2024.
However, there have been no major price changes at market stalls over the past year.
It is important to point out that in January last year, no state action to reduce inflation was in effect, after the then-current application of the "Stop Inflation" was suspended on the first day of 2024. Thus, the "Limited Prices" margin limitation action is currently in effect, which lasts until January 31 of this year.
As with previous trips to a large supermarket, “Vijesti” noticed that not all products that are part of the government campaign are marked on the shelves, but that the situation is better than it was a month ago. At that time, only one of the monitored items had this mark, while today three are marked. However, milk and yogurt are still left out of the “discount”, even though they are included in the campaign.
These are some of the results shown by the monthly price barometer "Vijesti", which monitored the monthly price movements of 15 products in Podgorica's small, large supermarkets and the market. The reporter went to these facilities once a month since September 2023, in the middle of the month, to list prices, monitor their movements and possible price increases or decreases. These are different foods, from the same manufacturer, of identical type and weight, in order to give a true picture of monthly changes.
Meat key difference
Buying all items whose prices are tracked by "Vijesti" in a large supermarket today costs 4,9 euros less than in January last year. Although the savings are noticeable in comparison, this store is still 1,1 euros more expensive than the one recorded a month ago, when a basket cost 44 euros.
The price of a kilogram of veal is now two euros lower than in the same month last year, costing 13 instead of 15 euros. Chicken is also that much cheaper, which is 2,3 euros cheaper than last year. A liter of milk is also 30 cents cheaper, so instead of 1,45 euros it now costs 1,15 euros, while a basket of eggs is 20 cents less, which now costs 1,9 euros in a large supermarket. Cured ham is also 30 cents cheaper, which costs 3,6 instead of the previous 3,9 euros, and a kilogram of cucumbers is that much cheaper.
On the other hand, a chocolate bar that cost a euro in a large supermarket last year now costs 1,3 euros. Toilet paper is ten cents more expensive, so it now costs two and a half euros, although it is included in the state campaign "Limited Prices". Bananas are also included in this campaign, but their price is now 1,1 euros, the same as it was in January last year.
The price of calamondin and apples is also higher, making them ten cents more expensive than in January 2024. Other monitored prices remained unchanged compared to the first month of last year.
In a small supermarket, buying all 15 products on the list costs a total of 32,1 euros, which is 5,3 euros cheaper than at the beginning of last year. A basket cost 37,4 euros at the time. These items are also currently about 20 cents cheaper than they were a month ago.
Only fish sticks are more expensive today than a year ago, while all other monitored items in the small market are cheaper. For example, a kilo of chicken is 2,8 euros cheaper than last year, so now you have to pay eight euros instead of the previous 10,8 euros. Eggs and milk are about 40 cents cheaper, while toothpaste is 25 cents cheaper, yogurt and ham are 20 cents cheaper, and toilet paper, bananas, apples are ten cents each...
Among vegetables, prices of tomatoes and cucumbers are 40 cents lower.
In the small market, there have been significant price changes in the last month, with the price of chicken dropping by half a euro, from 8,5 to 50 euros, while yogurt and bananas are XNUMX cents cheaper. On the other hand, the price of cucumbers has increased by XNUMX cents, so instead of the XNUMX euros that December, this item now costs two euros.
There were no major price corrections on the market.
Special offers
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Minister of Economic Development Nick Djelosaj At the end of December, at a working breakfast to present the results of that department for the past year, he said that "Limited Prices" would most likely be extended after January, and that it would last as long as necessary to preserve the standard of living of citizens.
"We conducted public opinion research and trade analyses, and we need to sit down with the economy to create an environment together, but not so that only they benefit and the citizens do not," said Đeljošaj, adding that the action succeeded in stopping the rise in prices, that it was launched in time before the implementation of the "Europe Now 2" program, because there was a risk that higher revenues would also cause a rise in prices.
"Limited prices" were launched on September 6 and will last until January 31 this year, and through them, after recent changes, margins for 67 food and hygiene products have been limited, in wholesale and retail stores. The margin is the difference in the purchase and selling price of goods. Thus, margins for the food sector in wholesale and retail stores are limited to 10 percent, while for hygiene products they are limited to a maximum of 10 percent, in wholesale and 15 percent in retail.
The state campaign originally included 66 products (51 food and 15 hygiene products), but the Government adopted a decision in late November and slightly expanded the list by correcting the existing one and adding a few domestic dairy products. The “Limited Prices” now include domestic yogurt and fermented milk of all weights, bringing the total list to 52 food items.
In addition to these, an earlier measure to limit margins on five basic foodstuffs, namely sunflower oil, crystal sugar, type 400 and 500 flour and table salt, is in force.
With the new government decision, one-liter cow's milk in a bag was included among these five from the food group. This means that this list now consists of six foods. The maximum margin on these products in wholesale is five percent, while in retail stores it is limited to seven percent.
The government said that the main reason for this move was to protect domestic dairy producers who have recently been threatened by Q fever.
November slightly more expensive
Montenegro recorded monthly inflation in November, with prices 0,2 percent higher than in October last year. This slight increase in prices followed September, when they fell - deflation - and October, when they did not change significantly.
Data from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (Monstat) also show that November prices were on average 1,7 percent higher than in the same month last year, and that the biggest impact on the monthly inflation rate was the increase in prices of vegetables, clothing, fuel, milk, cheese and eggs...
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