September 15, 2023 – Prime Minister Plenković presented a new package of measures on the increasing prices in Croatia to help citizens and businesses. The package was voted in unanimously by the government. It will include a price freeze on a number of products.
“According to an already very good and established procedure, we consulted with partners, trade unions, employers, chambers of commerce and trade, pensioners, associations of cities and counties, representatives of the largest banks and retail chains in Croatia. This package is the result of government consultations with many actors “, the PM said and then commented on the announced price freeze, writes Index.
“The price freeze will guarantee more favorable prices for certain foodstuffs and will have the effect of slowing down inflation,” said the Prime Minister. “This package primarily aims to maintain a low price of electricity for all citizens, institutions, and businesses. It is a message of economic stability,” Plenković said, adding that the package contains measures for both pensioners and families.
“During talks with the government, the retail chains decided to make certain products cheaper, and I am sure that some of them will return some prices to the levels from the end of last year. I expect cooperation from them,” he said, adding that they had agreed with the banks that they would increase interest on deposits.
The Measures to Slow Down Prices in Croatia
The price of electricity for households remains the same, but the semi-annual threshold is raised from 2,500 to 3,000 kWh. The price of electricity for the public sector and small businesses remains the same as well. There is no measure for large businesses; that is, electricity supply is to be contracted according to market conditions.
The amounts of one-off support for retirees with smaller pensions were also published, which for the first time includes employed retirees. The government published the amounts of support for beneficiaries of child allowance, and measures of support for farmers, energy buyers, and students (the price of student meals remains unchanged).
Furthermore, a decision has been adopted according to which the prices of 30 products remain frozen. The restrictions from the previous package remain for sunflower oil, milk, flour, sugar, whole chicken, and minced pork.
The new products with limited prices include yogurt in a cup and bottle – 40 cents; semi-hard gouda cheese block – 6.49 euros; rice – 2.29 euros per kilogram; spaghetti, 500g – 1.09 euros; fresh eggs, class M – 2.45 euros; boneless pork neck – 5.49 euros; beef neck with bone – 6.99 euros; chicken or turkey hot dogs – 2.69 euros; potatoes, 5 kilograms – 3.99 euros, carrots in bulk – 0.89 euros, etc.
A full shopping basket of products whose price is now frozen would have cost 99.68 euros at the end of last year, while the new price would be 76.19 euros, which is 23.57 percent less, with a saving of 23.49 euros, Prime Minister Plenković said.
He announced that all these products will be marked so that they are visible to consumers. The government has also announced the labels that will be placed next to products whose prices have been frozen (title image).
