Róbert Zsigó: the National Trade Association stands on the side of multinationals

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 08. 02. 10:35

It has been proven once again that the National Trade Association is on the side of multinationals, not the Hungarian people, but the profits of foreign chains, even if this is at the expense of customers – the parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

Róbert Zsigó said that the organization, citing research it commissioned, claims that food prices have not decreased, customers have been worse off, and that margin reduction does not achieve the desired effect, but is rather a bad measure.

The state secretary reminded in his post that the government introduced margin reduction in 30 product categories, for nearly a thousand foods, from March 17.

According to the latest data, 854 foods have become cheaper, by an average of 20.2 percent, there are 281 foods that have become at least 30 percent cheaper, but some have become more than 50 percent cheaper.

In addition to food, margin reductions have also been introduced for drugstore products. In addition, they agreed to reduce the fees for banking and telecommunications services, as well as the prices of certain medicines. From September, pensioners will receive a food voucher worth 30,000 forints – summarized Zsigó Róbert.

The National Trade Association ignores these facts and is trying to put pressure on the government with such “scam research” not to extend the margin reduction after August 31 – he wrote.

“In addition, the horse’s foot is sticking out, since Brussels recently announced that it will initiate infringement proceedings against Hungary due to the food and drugstore margin reduction. Brussels is demanding an increase in prices and the abolition of the multinational tax” – said Zsigó Róbert.

According to the Secretary of State’s post, he is sending a message to Brussels and the National Trade Association that they will continue to take action against excessive and unjustified price increases by all means, protecting not the profits of multinationals, but the Hungarian people, families and pensioners.