Assistant Minister of Trade Jasmin Hodzic said on the occasion of freezing the prices of basic groceries that it is not good when the state intervenes in the market in that way, but that it was necessary due to the stabilization of prices.
“Due to the corona, the global supply chain was interrupted and demand fell, so the government reacted by adopting this necessary measure, even though the prices are determined by the market,” Hodzic said.
“We have proven to be a socially responsible state that wants to primarily protect the poorest population, to protect the economic standard of citizens,” said Hodzic, reminding that a similar measure was adopted during the state of emergency in 2020.
Hodzic said that there are commodity reserves, but that he thinks that there will be no need for them, because he is convinced that people will not buy stocks.
According to the projections of the National Bank of Serbia, prices and inflationary pressure will increase by the middle of 2022, Hodzic emphasized, adding that the measures are limited to two months with the possibility of extension, and that they will monitor the situation.
As he said, it is an attempt of the state to stop the price increase and it is expected that due to the New Year’s holidays, there will be an increase in demand and consumption, which is why the Government has now adopted that measure, N1 reports.
