The “Best Price” campaign has officially begun in Serbia, offering citizens the opportunity to purchase food, personal hygiene products and household chemicals at reduced prices in over 2,500 stores nationwide. Running until October 31, the campaign includes products from 81 categories, with average discounts of 26.82 percent.
Trade Minister Tomislav Momirović, who attended the campaign launch at a DIS store alongside Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) President Marko Čadež, highlighted that the initiative covers all essential food items, including meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, as well as personal hygiene and household products.
“We aim to support citizens, especially since September is a traditionally challenging month with rising costs as children return to school,” said Momirović.
He noted that this new campaign is more ambitious than previous ones, offering greater discounts and a broader range of products. Momirović emphasized that the initiative is part of the government’s strategy to reduce inflation.
“Inflation has been trending downwards for six months. While we experienced a slight stagnation last month, our goal is to reduce inflation to below three percent. This campaign is one of the measures to achieve that,” he explained.
Momirović also pointed out that the previous “Better Price” campaign, though smaller in scope, contributed to a 16 percent reduction in inflation according to the Republic Institute of Statistics.
He dismissed claims that the campaign is a form of aggressive government intervention, asserting that Serbia operates within a market economy. “This initiative does not undermine market principles,” he stated, adding that the participating retail chains, which employ 50,000 people, are crucial to this effort.
PKS President Marko Čadež praised the “Best Price” initiative as an innovative collaboration between the state and the economy aimed at countering the psychological inertia of inflation—a phenomenon where prices do not fall even after market stabilization due to future uncertainties.
“This kind of initiative has a ripple effect on other products as well,” Čadež noted, expressing hope that it will lead to further price reductions.
He also highlighted that profit margins for Serbian retail chains are lower compared to those in the European Union. Acting Assistant Minister of Trade Žarko Malinović added that the participating chains have an average profit rate of 2.9 percent, and competition in Serbia is more robust than in neighboring countries.
DIS company General Director Ivan Šuleić confirmed that his chain has joined the campaign, offering 104 discounted items across its stores, which are marked with the “Best Price” label.
Prime Minister Miloš Vučević announced that the campaign will feature 700 different products, with expected savings for households ranging from 8,000 to 22,000 dinars per month. These products will be offered at significantly lower prices than those in regular promotions.
