Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced plans to reduce real prices in the consumer basket for essential items, a move reported by DEA News. The pledge aligns with a broader effort to shield households from rising living costs and to stabilize everyday purchases in the near term.
Vučić described a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Foreign and Domestic Trade, manufacturers, and retail chains. The aim is to roll out concrete measures that support citizens as they navigate price pressures and maintain access to affordable food and daily essentials.
In presenting the initiative, Vučić directed the department head, Tomislav Momirović, to bring forward a practical demonstration of the plan. He requested a tangible display of the supermarket basket, illustrating the items that will be prioritized for affordability and visibility in stores across the country.
He noted that the basket will feature products carrying a new “best price” designation beginning September 15, a label that shoppers will see across nearly all retail outlets. The basket will include twenty staple items, carefully selected to reflect common household consumption and to provide a reliable gauge of price stability for families nationwide.
Prior to this, the Serbian Council of Ministers took action to cap the prices of essential foodstuffs. Sugar, flour, and sunflower oil were among the goods placed under price regulation, signaling the government’s willingness to intervene directly in the market to curb sudden surges and smooth out volatility for consumers.
The core objective of these price controls is to mitigate the adverse effects of rising food costs and to prevent disruptive price shocks from reverberating through the domestic market. Officials emphasized that the measures seek to preserve purchasing power for households while maintaining a stable supply chain for retailers and producers alike, ensuring predictable pricing during a period of economic fluctuation.
Analysts note that the policy package is designed to complement longer-term reforms aimed at improving market transparency, supporting domestic producers, and strengthening competition among retailers. Observers expect ongoing monitoring of how price caps interact with supply dynamics, consumer demand, and inflation trajectories, with adjustments possible as market conditions evolve.
In comments not limited to the immediate measures, government voices underscored a commitment to safeguarding food security and ensuring that families have reliable access to basic sustenance. The plan foregrounds collaboration among government bodies, the business sector, and retail networks to deliver practical outcomes that reflect real-world shopping experiences and outcomes for Canadian and American readers tracking similar policies in North America.