site.btaTrade Union to Monitor Prices of Consumer Basket Goods in Months Prior Eurozone Accession

In the period before Bulgaria's Eurozone accession, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB) will conduct monthly price monitoring of 20 goods from the small consumer basket range, said CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov on Monday. He noted that CITUB can contribute with objective data and constant comparison of small consumer basket goods that they coordinate with 6-7 other EU countries.

CITUB Vice President and Chief Economist Lyuboslav Kostov said that price changes of the 20 goods in all 28 Bulgarian administrative regions will be monitored.

“We are talking about 17 main categories - all baked goods, cereals including flour, bread, rice, meat and meat products, eggs, milk, oil, vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers potatoes, fruit like apples and lemons. We will monitor gas prices and the breakfast banitsa, the price of a cup of coffee and mineral water. We will publish information about any price changes on the CITUB website every month, so that people are able to make references and contact the authorities if needed,” said Kostov.

The aim of the monitoring program is to guarantee consumer protection by preventing unjustified price increases.

Kostov mentioned that CITUB and the Government signed a cooperation memorandum on the topic of euro adoption and prevention of unfair price increases of goods and services last week. He noted that CITUB will also take part in public consultations with the Competition Protection Commission and the Commission for Consumer Protection.