The authorities have launched an investigation into retail chains that have made parallel and big price increases for basic food produce, the national economy ministry said on Wednesday.
The price increases fly in the face of government-mandated food price caps and promotions on certain products which have been subject to an online price monitoring system from June 1, 2023, the ministry said in a statement.
Big retail chains upped retail prices for fine flour, 2.8 percent UHT milk and sugar, among others, the statement said, with instances of a doubling of the price of certain flours. Some milk brands increased by an average of about 45 percent, while the price of granulated sugar went up by more than 25 percent on average, it added.
Photo: Daily News Hungary
Whereas as these measures have been largely effective in pushing down inflation, competition office (GVH), has so far scrutinised 3,000 retailers and imposed fines amounting to 650 million forints.
The ministry said it is committed to protecting Hungarian families and has asked to competition office and the ministry’s own consumer protection department to take further joint action against unfair businesses.
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4 Comments
Shame! Price controls! Socialist Marxist practices! Interference in the free market!
Do I hear … Crickets ???
Cost of Ground Roasted Coffee for percolator – Horrendous increase in cost.
We purchase from Lehal Market – Eduscho – Wiener Extra – 1000g.
We have DONE for 6 years.
Pre Covid – we used to pay “mean’ of 2200.00 huf.
Post the Covid time, even with Orban’s REDICULOUS Policies of Price Capping – it has risen to 3350 huf – 1000g.
In the past (4) weeks and risen from 2850 huf to now 3350 – that just in 4 weeks.
Surely it’s not just through the “vulnerability” of the forint ?
GOUGING is RAMPANT.
Lehal Market as an example.
ALL the little stores and there is a number – that stock and SELL this brand of – Eduscho – Ground Roasted Coffee – Wiener Extra 1000g – they are getting SCREWED and GOUGED by the Greed of the DISTRIBUTOR.
If not – who then are the GOUGERS ?
The Lehal Market “vendors” wouldn’t be working on HIGH profit margins.
There operation would muchly center on SURVIVING – keeping there heads just above the water line through COMPETITION within the Lehal Market.
The Grand Market Hall – Fovam ter, has always over 6 years had a sizable higher sale cost on Eduscho – Wiener Extra – 1000g – Grounded Roasted Coffee.
There price NOW being – 3900 huf.
Greed, Selfishness and EXPLOITATION – is RAMPANT.
Governments – factually are POWERLESS to do or take actions, in the interest of the General Public – to STOP it.
It’s a HUMAN invention and REVOLTING in it’s USE that effects “other” Humans.
REMEMBER – the HIGHER prices we pay for the NEED’s of our Daily lives in Hungary – a VAT of 27% being the HIGHEST in the 27 country’s that are the European Union, the Orban – Fidesz Government RECEIVE the tax componentry of the sale.
Higher prices – HIGHER taxes paid to the Orban – Fidesz Government.
Government WIN’s again – WE again LOOSE – the citizens / population of HUNGARY.
Propaganda – CRAP again coming out of this Orban – Fidesz Government.
Orban and his Minister of Finance – the “Dud” embarrassment that is Mihaly Varga – “Stuffed up” big time with there IDIOTIC policy(s) of Price TAPPING.
Price Tapping when in PLACE – non effective, prices STILL rose.
The end of Price Tapping – Orban & Varga – the FIDESZ Government TOLD – would see INFLATION again RAISE it’s NASTY head.
Inflation fellow HUNGARIANS is BACK.
Example – FACT as we USE have done for 6 plus years – purchased from Lehal Market.
1000g – Eduscho – Ground Roasted Coffee – Weiner Extra.
Pre Covid = “mean” price 1950.00 huf.
Post Covid and through the Orban/Varga – “Price Tapping” period to 28th August see’s the price a “mean” of 3300.00 huf. – for this PRODUCT.
Over the course of the last 5 weeks – it has RISEN from 2850.00 huf to 3300.00 huf.
It can’t be the VULNURABILITY of the Forint ?
It’s the GREED – the SELFISHNESS and the EXPLOITATION of us, the citizens of Hungary of the DISTRIBUTORS.
Lehal Market – there are a number of “small” store operations that SELL this brand of Roasted Coffee.
There PROFIT margin would be MINIMAL – through people customers like me – checking at the vendors store there PRICE.
Price competing DOES exist.
They NEED the Forints.
The Lehal Market shop vendors ARE getting SCREWED over – BIG Time – by the DISTRIBUTION company selling them – 1000g Eduscho – Ground Roasted – Weiner Extra Coffee.
Rossman – they APPALLINGLY – are selling this same COFFEE – for 5900.00 huf.
Tesco – out of stock BUT of past knowledge – there price was always 2000 huf higher than the Lehal Market “battling” Store Holders.
The Grand Market Hall, Fovam ter – always 1000 plus forint than the Lehal Market Price.
Present price at the Great Market Hall = 3900 huf.
Gouging, it’s muchly EXERCISED from the DISTRUBUTION operator(s).
There profitability on a SALE to my Lehal Market vendor(s) is FAR greater, that what they PAY to purchase this named Coffee brand for DISTRIBUTION.
Important that We REMEMBER.
Vat at 27% applicable applied in Hungary – this TAX – goes to the Orban – Fidesz Government.
PRICE rises across the board in Hungary, through SUPPOSED increased INFLATION – we in our PURCHASING of the NEEDS of our daily lives – those increased level of taxe’s – go to the Orban – Fidesz Government.
The Orban – Fidesz Government are the WINNERS and we, like the “little” battling” store holders at Lehal Market – we and they are the BIG Losers.
Orban – the Fidesz Government – it is THERE Interest – they GLEEM celebrate at INCREASED pricing BECAUSE it simple means more TAX is paid to them.
The CULTURE of a GOVERNMENT that have DELIVERED us as a country to this state of an ECONOMIC & Financial position of CHAOS – they NEED all the taxes from us THEY can GRAB.
Orban – the Fidesz Government – US First and we the citizens get the SCRAPS, the Left-overs.
Governments and HISTORY never LIES are POWERLESS to take actions that CEASE and factually STOP Price Gouging.
Breaking it ALL down, it’s AGAINST Governments, especially the CULTURE of the Orban “Mob” – there INTEREST(s) to have the POWER to effect the non practice of Price Gouging.
NOTHING – is GOING to get CHEAPER in Hungary.
If our GOVERNMENT THRIVE’s – exist by practice – by its VILE culture of – GREED, SELFISHNESS and EXPLOTATION of its CITIZENS, we WILL continue to pay the HEAFTY Price – the rising PRICES across the board in HUNGARY.
Propaganda – the CRAP that just “Flows” out of the “Doomed” Orban – Fidesz Government – Heinous.
I’m afraid that as long as 27% VAT is applicable to groceries the government is self-interested in food inflation no matter the harm this causes to living standards. They can sanction increases in minimum wage but as long as they take 27% of an elevated food bill, the payrise is an illusion and the revenue for government coffers keeps increasing. This is a quite well crafted plan as VAT is unavoidable as is buying food, it’s not a discretionary purchase. Where this falls down is the ease with which many Hungarians can vote with their feet and drive abroad to go shopping where they buy in bulk and ensure the Hungarian budget gets nothing for the next month. If the country invested more in rail, education and healthcare and less in (often largely empty) dual carriageways faciltating the faster movement of cars to the border the effect of cross-border shopping would be less.