The only product that has increased in price in Podgorica's stores and markets over the past three months is liter milk with a cap, while the price of fish sticks has been reduced by 40 percent, and chicken fillets, tomatoes and bananas are also cheaper. Apart from these and the influence of the state campaign "Stop Inflation", there were no major price corrections in stores in the capital.
This was shown, among other things, by the "Vijesti" research, which monitored the monthly price movements of 15 products in Podgorica's small and large markets and markets.
Of the items that were monitored, the only increase in price was the milk "Moja kravica" with a cap, which in a large retail chain went from 1,15 euros to 1,45. The biggest reduction in the same period was recorded in the selling price of fish sticks - which became cheaper by 1,37 euros. There were no significant corrections on the market, and the biggest price drop in a small market was recorded for a kilogram of chicken fillet.
Variations with cork
The editorial staff went to these outlets once a month in the past period, on September 14, October and November, in order to list the prices, monitor their movements and possible price increases or decreases. During each visit, the prices of 15 different foods, of the same manufacturer, of identical type and weight, were recorded, in order to provide a true picture of monthly changes.
In addition to the items listed in the table, an interesting thing in the large market was noticed with a liter of milk "Moja kravica" without a cap, which in September cost 1,09 euros. The price of that product was then lowered to 99 cents at the beginning of October and the introduction of the state program to fight inflation. At the same time, the price of milk of the same type but with a cap went from 1,15 in September to 30 cents more when measured in October, bringing its price to 1,45 euros.
The government's action "Stop Inflation", which limited the prices of more than 2 foodstuffs from October 100 until the end of the year, affected two products that were included in the list by "Vijesti", namely milk and toilet paper.
The biggest drop that was recorded in the supermarket this quarter is certainly in the price of "Ledo" fish sticks. Thus, this foodstuff, from 3,25 euros, which it cost in the ninth month, became cheaper by more than 40 percent in October and cost 1,83, and it has maintained that level until today. In October, a kilogram of chicken fillet could be bought for almost 1,2 euros cheaper, while the prices of apples and cucumbers temporarily dropped by 20 cents in that month. These prices returned to their previous level already in November, while chicken remained cheaper.
Fillet, apples and tomatoes
The biggest correction in the small market was recorded in the kilogram of "Cekin" chicken fillet. Between the ninth and tenth months, that product became cheaper by one and a half euros, bringing its price to 11 euros, which, on the other hand, is almost one and a half euros more than in a larger retail chain.
The second biggest reduction was in the case of cucumbers, which dropped in total by 50 cents. In addition, the editors did not notice any significant price changes among other foodstuffs.
It is also interesting that a small market is more favorable than a large one in only one category - apples. Thus, a customer in a large retail chain pays 1,29 for them, while in a smaller one the price is ten cents lower. Other prices are either identical or from ten cents to a euro and a half more.
Although the selection of food is limited in the market, at the same stalls that the editorial office monitored for three months, tomatoes experienced the biggest drop in value. Its price for the quarter was reduced by a total of 30 cents. At one of the markets in Podgorica, it is significantly cheaper than in stores, at least by 50 cents. In addition, bananas also cost less, while other prices vary slightly.
Despite the prices recorded by the editorial office in October and their drop by 0,3 percent at the national level, they are still six percent higher than in the same month last year. As a result, monthly deflation was recorded for the second time this year in the tenth month.
Deflation was previously recorded in March this year, when prices fell by 0,7 percent compared to February. In the two months of deflation, March and October, the Government and traders launched two "Stop Inflation" actions that limited the prices of basic food and other foodstuffs, which only symbolically affected the slowdown of annual inflation.
"Consumer prices for the ten months of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year are on average 9,5 percent higher," said Monstat.
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