Fantastic price hike

• 13.01.2009, 12:27

In spite of promises of the authorities not to raise prices, the Ministry of Economy has noted prices for food have increased by 30-60 per cent for 12 days of January.

Fish, fruit, and vegetables have especially grown in prices. It should be noted that data of the Ministry of Economy are traditionally underestimated. Real prices are even higher.

So, according to official data, buckwheat groats have increased by 26.9 per cent, rice – by 20 per cent, peas – by 33.5 per cent, coffee – by 23 per cent, tea – by 27-29 per cent, vegetable oil – by 21.4 per cent, imported fish – by 44 per cent, fruit and vegetables – by 59.6 per cent (mandarins), apples have raised in price by 46 per cent, lemons – by 44.5 per cent.

“Market participants, including state-run ones, used 20 per cent Belarusian ruble devaluation and increased prices,” Interfax quotes deputy minister of economy Adashkevich. He admitted that devaluation should affect retail prices of imported goods, “but growth in prices for main products significantly exceeds devaluation.”

According to him, since December 31 to January 12, prices of some products, namely groats, fish, fruit, and vegetables, have increased by 40-65 per cent in Minsk, exceeding devaluation level.

It should be reminded that on January 4, head of information department of the National Bank Anatol Drazdou said: “There are no grounds for prices growth!” he said it about imported goods, too.

“Rate of imports is still great in our country. But oil has reduced in price threefold, prices of metals have become two times lower, leading states-producers are declining prices by 20-30 per cent at finished goods. So, there are no grounds for price hike,” the spokesman of the National Bank said.

In his view, prices of imported goods have been raised in some places to compensate for losses, but it is temporary, “goods will be sold out, and this will end as well”. “changes in prices will affect only imported goods, prices of Belarusian goods will remain the same,” the representative of the National Bank emphasised.