Households could save an average of up to €39 a month through the National Price Reduction Initiative, according to an estimate by the Independent Authority for Market Control and Consumer Protection, based on monthly sales of products included in the initiative.
At the same time, the Authority responded to criticism, mainly from opposition parties, that some companies had raised prices before the initiative began so they could later appear to have been reduced. It said that during July and August it received no notification of a price increase from any branded-product company participating in the initiative, which took effect on August 31 and covers 1,740 products.
“The only notification of a price increase submitted during this period concerned a company that is not participating in the initiative,” the Authority said.
Although there was an agreement to freeze prices over the summer, PASOK says the market was left unchecked, with price increases of up to 35%.
On September 2, PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas said that despite an agreement to freeze prices over the summer, the market was left unchecked during that period, resulting in a series of price increases of up to 35%.
He gave specific examples: “I see, for example, a 400ml bottle of shampoo that cost €2.43 on July 8. By August 30, it had risen to €3.54, and yesterday it fell to €3.25. So it is €0.82 more expensive than it was in July. But it has fallen compared with the day before yesterday, when it had already risen by more than one euro.”
Sources: Kathimerini, MEGA, Ef.Syn.
