Price increases in the Republika Srpska in April were mostly reflected in the prices of housing, utilities, and basic foodstuffs, and while the monthly inflation was 0.3 percent, the annual inflation was nine percent, according to the data of the Republic Institute of Statistics.
Thus, according to these data, out of 12 sections of products and services, higher prices were recorded in ten, and lower prices in two sections.
“The highest annual price increase in April this year was recorded in the housing section, namely 20.2 percent, due to the increase in prices in the electricity and other energy groups of 24.4 percent, followed by maintenance and repair of residential units with 11.7 percent and water supply and other communal services by 8.7 percent, and in the section food and non-alcoholic beverages by 13.8 percent, due to the increase in prices in the groups milk and dairy products by 28.1 percent and fish by 24.8 percent,” it is stated. in the Institute’s data.
Comparing data from the previous year, that is, between April last year and this year, it can be noted that the prices of eggs increased the most, by more than 30 percent, and chicken fillets, by 12 percent. Thus, the price of an egg jumped from 0.32 to 0.42 KM per piece, while chicken fillet cost 12.69 KM/kg then, and now it is 14.31 KM/kg.
In addition, other foodstuffs have also become more expensive, so in April of last year semi-white bread made from wheat flour cost 3.15 KM/kg, while now it is 3.54 KM.
Meat is also more expensive, so beef with bones cost 11.94 KM a year ago, while now it costs 13.23 KM, and veal without bones cost 22.81 KM last year, and now 24.28 KM. Boneless pork cost 10.52 KM/kg a year ago, and 12.35 KM in April this year.
The price of fruit also increased, so a kilogram of bananas cost 2.52 KM last year, and now it is 3.12, while apples cost 1.80 KM, and now they are 2 KM.
In that period, the prices of some foodstuffs fell, so last year oil cost 5.21 KM, while now it is 3.49 KM, and walnuts cost 16.73 KM, and now they are 13.08 KM.
Denis Šulić, Minister of Trade and Tourism of the Republika Srpska, held a meeting yesterday in Banja Luka with representatives of retail chains, the Union of Employers’ Associations of the Republika Srpska, the Chamber of Commerce of the Republika Srpska and the Republic Administration for Inspection Affairs, with whom he discussed the current situation in the field of trade and movement the price of the product in retail stores.
“The topic of the meeting was the socially responsible business of retail chains in the Republic of Srpska, as one of the modalities for mitigating inflationary trends. Minister Šulić presented a proposal on the possibility of implementing a campaign centered on socially responsible business in the sense of marketing certain products at lower prices in retail establishments,” the relevant ministry announced.
As stated by the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the Republika Srpska, at yesterday’s meeting it was pointed out that inflationary trends are still pronounced when it comes to product prices in the Republika Srpska, and they discussed possible future activities that would be implemented with the application of the existing regulations limited margins on basic foodstuffs and liquid petroleum fuels.
“The participants of the meeting expressed their interest in participating in joint activities aimed at mitigating inflationary trends, as well as improving the operation of trade facilities, and it was pointed out that everything will be discussed more in the coming period,” the relevant ministry said.
