Slovaks struggle to get to grips with euro prices

Shops are supposed to be listing prices in both units, getting people used to the euro before formal conversion on January 1, 2009 but many are not, according to the trade inspectorate.

 Trade inspectors were "unpleasantly
surprised" following a series of early spot checks in the
capital Bratislava which found serious fault with nearly half of the
stores checked.

The requirement to state prices in
both koruna and euro so far only applies to larger stores. Those
employing less than five people are allowed to display only the
conversion rate of 30.1260 koruna that will take effect when euro
coins and cash are introduced at the start of 2009.

For those that make an extra effort to
get the message, the response from shoppers has sometimes been
disappointing.

The government publicity campaign,
focussing on TV spots but including currency conversion calculators
sent to every home, and special theatre shows and CDs about the euro
for the large Roma minority, has been in full swing since early
July.

Even so, a poll published in August by
the national statistics office showed 33 percent of Slovaks are
afraid euro adoption will drive price rises and speculation.