Buying fruit and vegetables at the Podgorica market, whose prices "Vijesti" has been monitoring on the stalls for a long time, is two and a half euros more expensive today than in September last year. These four foods cost 4,2 euros back then, while they now cost 6,7 euros. A kilogram of tomatoes and cucumbers is currently one euro more expensive, while bananas cost 30 cents more, and apples cost 20 cents more.
On the other hand, in a large supermarket in the same city, buying all items would currently cost 1,8 euros less than in September last year. In September 2024, when the "Limited Prices" campaign was launched, these products had to be paid 47,9 euros, while now that this state measure is expiring, they have to be paid 46,1 euros.
The smallest difference is in a small market, where all products on the list cost 34,2 euros, or about 90 cents less than in the ninth month of last year when they cost 35,1 euros.
These are some of the results shown by the monthly price barometer "Vijesti", which monitored the 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.
According to Monstat data, prices in March were 0,3 percent higher than in February this year. Compared to the same month last year, March prices were 2,6 percent higher. The biggest impact on monthly inflation was on rent, restaurants, cafes, fruit, vegetables, pharmaceutical products, coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar...
In a large supermarket, bananas are 25 cents more expensive per kilogram today than in September last year, costing 1,6 euros instead of 1,33 euros. In the same period, tomatoes also became more expensive, now costing 60 cents more. A kilogram of tomatoes now costs 2,6 euros, instead of the previous two euros. Cucumbers are also about ten cents more expensive. Toilet paper and toothpaste are about ten cents more expensive, while dishwashing detergent costs 20 cents more, or 2,5 euros instead of 2,3 euros.
The price of milk chocolate is 20 cents higher than in September, so it costs 1,2 euros instead of one euro.
The biggest difference is in the price of chicken, which is now two euros cheaper than in September last year. It cost 8,5 euros then and now costs 6,5 euros. The same is true of veal, which is a euro cheaper than then. Cured ham is also 35 cents cheaper than then, while other prices have not changed significantly.
Buying all 15 products in a large supermarket is now 1,8 euros cheaper than in September last year. Back then, these groceries cost 47,9 euros, while they currently cost 46,1 euros. This total price is still higher than in March this year, when it was 45,5 euros, which means that the price of groceries has increased by 60 cents in the last month.
The price of tomatoes has increased the most in the small market, by 50 cents per kilogram, or 2,7 euros instead of 2,2 euros. The price of cucumbers is also that much higher. Chocolate now costs 30 cents more than in September, at 1,5 euros instead of 1,2 euros. Bananas are also that much more expensive, while caladont is ten cents more expensive, and dishwashing detergent is 20 cents more expensive.
On the other hand, the price of chicken is two euros lower than it was, so a kilogram costs eight instead of ten euros, while milk is 40 cents cheaper. Pressed ham now costs 35 cents less, while yogurt is about 25 cents cheaper. Buying all items in a mini market now costs 34,2 euros, which is about 90 cents less than in September last year when they had to be paid 35,1 euros. Going to a mini market is marginally cheaper than a month ago, by about ten cents.
Prices at the market are higher in all categories today than in September last year. Back then, four groceries cost 4,2 euros, while the store is currently 2,5 euros more expensive, or 6,7 euros. That is still about 20 cents less than these fruits and vegetables cost in March this year. Tomatoes and cucumbers are currently more expensive per euro than in September 2024, and apples and bananas cost 20 and 30 cents more, respectively.
"Limited prices" were launched on September 6 last year and were planned to last until the end of January, but the Government extended this period until April 30. Through this action, margins for 67 food and hygiene products in wholesale and retail stores were limited. Thus, margins for the food sector in wholesale and retail stores were limited to 10 percent, while for hygiene products they were limited to a maximum of 10 percent in wholesale and 15 percent in retail.
An earlier measure to limit margins on five basic foodstuffs is also in force, namely sunflower oil, granulated sugar, flour types 400 and 500 and table salt. By a new government decision from the end of November, liter-sized cow's milk in a bag was removed from the food group and included among these five. This means that this list now consists of six foodstuffs. The maximum margin on these products in wholesale trade is five percent, while in retail stores it is limited to seven percent.
The Ministry of Economic Development announced in mid-March that this action had yielded excellent results, preserved the standard of living of citizens and stopped the rise in prices. This was stated at the first session of the Coordination Body for Price Monitoring and Market Stabilization, and that conditions had been created for establishing a dialogue to review the market situation and propose future measures.
Months pass, no sign
On the shelves of a large supermarket in Podgorica, liter-sized UHT milk has not been labeled "Limited Prices" for eight months, even though it is included in this state campaign.
It is similar in the case of the liter package of yogurt, which has not been marked as part of this campaign for five months.
Milk in the megamarket has not been part of the "Limited Prices" since its inception in September 2024, while yogurt has not been properly recorded since December last year until today.
This megamarket does respect margin limits when it comes to bananas, toilet paper, and dishwashing detergent, so these products are neatly labeled.
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