"The price increase is already a fact, in the last 2 months. First, it is clear that there is an inexplicable discrepancy from a market point of view between the retail chains and the small stores - We observe 600 sites, in the chains it is more expensive than in the small neighborhood stores, which is market nonsense. For 21 goods that we are currently looking at - between 2% and 12%. White beans are 11% more expensive than in small shops. This was announced by the president of the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions Plamen Dimitrov in the program "Face to Face" on bTV.
The other big discrepancy that Plamen Dimitrov noted is: the wholesale price that is officially announced in the country by the exchanges and the retail price that we calculate - there the difference is between 20% (the lowest) to 100%, i.e. cucumbers are 2 times more expensive. They are 1.60 on the exchange, 3 and something are on average in stores.
Cheese - from 11.63 BGN to 19.70 BGN in the store network - 72% more. This has already been calculated and people are already seeing it. At the moment, this is inexplicable. Dimitrov announced that they have notified the CPC, which will conduct an analysis of food products. Incorrect market practices may be checked. By the end of the month, it has been promised that they will come up with a clear, transparent analysis of what is happening with food prices - from the manufacturer, how it moves, to the prices in small, neighborhood stores.
According to Dimitrov, there is no connection between the increase in the price of food from the small basket and entering the eurozone. Inflation itself is on an annual basis. It is not for the last 2-3 months. So the fact that it has become 4-5% - this covers last year at this time. Dimitrov said that what is happening with prices has nothing to do with the euro.
"Budgets have been tied to fantasy so far since the 22nd year. "That is, this tax insurance policy and revenues on the basis that we have in the economy - it is impossible to have a magic wand," said Dimitrov. He proposes rebalancing the tax system - introducing new taxes, a tax on financial transactions. VAT should be reduced, not increased.