In Croatia, a boycott was held to protest inflation

The boycott was initiated by consumer groups to put pressure on retailers, whom many hold responsible for the continuous price increases. The action was supported by opposition parties, trade unions, several local celebrities, and two members of the government. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković called the boycott an “important and clear message” and announced that the government would review the list of products subject to price controls next week.

Spectacular results

The action left stores across the country unusually empty. A central supermarket in Zagreb had only a few customers at noon on Friday. Josip Kelemen, a representative of the consumer protection group “Halo, inspektore”, said the boycott had a profound impact on retailers. “People feel cheated. Even the well-off supported us, they feel the same way,” Kelemen told AFP.

The Croatian tax office issued an extraordinary statement, detailing that by 4pm retailers had issued 43 percent fewer invoices than on Friday a week earlier, and the amount was 50 percent lower. This means that Croatian citizens spent 20 million euros less on Friday.

Inflation situation in Croatia

Croatia introduced the euro in 2023, which was followed by significant price increases. Inflation in the country was 4.5 percent last year, the highest in the eurozone and well above the 2.4 percent average. The ongoing price increases are causing serious tensions in society, which has already expressed its dissatisfaction on several occasions.

The tangible results of Friday’s boycott show that organized citizen protest can exert significant pressure on both retailers and the government. However, curbing inflation and restoring public confidence remain key challenges.