Róbert Zsigó: The price of 874 foods has decreased thanks to the margin freeze

Róbert Zsigó added that the margin freeze was introduced because it seemed that “prices are not rising, but rather prices are being raised.” The past few days have proven that retail chains have indeed made extra profits on foods, he noted.

He said that

in the past 9 days, the average price decrease was 17.7 percent, with some foods becoming cheaper by 60 percent, 27 foods by 50 percent, and dozens of goods by between 40 and 50 percent.

The price of dairy products has decreased the most, with previously the margin for milk being 68 percent, for sour cream 129 percent, and for yogurt 70 percent.

The National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority and the Economic Competition Authority are checking compliance with the margin freeze regulation in about a hundred stores every week. They are also investigating whether retailers are transferring profits to other products. The price of seventy-two products has increased, the reason for which is being examined individually, it could also be that a previously discounted product has become more expensive – he added.

He said that retailers could be fined five million forints per product category, and in the final case, they could even close their stores, if they do not comply with this important measure for people and families.

“We are not threatening, we do not want a war with retail chains, but we will examine each case, and where there has been a violation of the law, we will punish the retailer”

– he said.