The Russian government has prepared all the necessary measures, including of a systemic nature, to stabilize prices for socially significant food products.
This was stated by the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin.
“This will allow not only now, but also in the future, to quickly and clearly respond to any challenges and prevent unreasonable price increases,” Mishustin said.
According to him, on Wednesday, December 16, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade will sign agreements on lowering prices for sugar and sunflower oil with industry associations and a number of major federal retail chains.
Later, other market representatives, including regional retailers and suppliers, will join them.
In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has prepared a bill allowing the government, under certain conditions, to introduce price regulation for socially significant products.
Another decree concerns intervention in the situation when prices for this category of products rise by 10% within 30 days.
Previously, the government had such powers, but only if the value of such goods increased by 30% or more over the same period.
“Moreover, the monitoring will be carried out for two months, which will allow tracking not only one-time surges, but also a smoother increase in prices.
And take all the necessary decisions to protect the interests of people.
Take measures in a timely manner, and not wait for prices to rise, ”the head of government explained.
At the same time, Mishustin stressed that the measures taken to contain prices will be short-term.
“There is no need to get carried away with this, to fall into the so-called regulatory rage, so that administrative regulation does not lead to a decrease in production or long-term investments.
You need to use these tools in a timely manner when prices of basic foodstuffs increase.
And abandon administrative measures when the situation stabilizes.
We perfectly understand all the laws of the market, and the measures taken must be strictly proportional to the problem, ”the prime minister added.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin
RIA News
© Dmitry Astakhov
At the same time, the company X5 Retail Group, which manages the retail chains Pyaterochka, Perekrestok and Karusel, announced the zeroing of the trade margin for socially important goods (pasta, bread, stewed beef, black tea, potatoes, cereals and ultra-pasteurized milk).
Igor Shekhterman, CEO of X5 Retail Group, expressed hope that similar actions will be taken by their colleagues in the industry, as well as manufacturers and suppliers.
As RISS expert, candidate of economic sciences Mikhail Belyaev told RT, prices for socially significant products should be subject to regulation by the state, in particular, limiting their arbitrary growth.
“The root of evil lies not in the area of balancing market relations between supply and demand, but in the actions of the companies that are our ultimate sellers.
Basically, chain stores are to blame for the rise in prices, and you need to pay attention to their activities.
This is the direct responsibility of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, ”explained Belyaev.
In turn, Deputy Head of the Economic Committee of the Federation Council Valery Vasiliev emphasized that large trading floors almost do not allow products of small regional manufacturers to enter their shelves.
“The acute requests of the regions again and again return us to the problems of interaction between small and medium-sized businesses and retail chains.
As we ourselves see, the share of large retail chains in the total volume of retail trade is growing.
And it is not only difficult for small business trade in the regions to enter trade networks - they are literally "washed out" of it, "RIA Novosti quotes him.
On December 16, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) announced the preparation and approval of regulatory documents aimed at reducing prices for certain categories of socially significant products.
Recall that on December 9, during a meeting on economic issues, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized ministers for the rise in food prices, demanding that measures be taken to resolve the problem within a week.
During a meeting with members of the government, the head of state called on “not to tell fairy tales” about the current situation and drew attention to the fact that the real disposable income of the population fell by 4.3%, and the prices of socially important products increased significantly: sugar (by 71% ), vegetable oil (23.8%), cereals (19.9%), flour (13%), pasta (10.5%) and bakery (6%) products.
“You said to me, 'I hope it stabilizes next week.'
I am not satisfied with this formulation in this case!
Not “I hope,” but tell me that from next week it will be stabilized.
We are sitting here to think about how other people eat, ”Putin said.
After that, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin instructed to prepare all the necessary documents to normalize food prices.
The head of government also approved the composition of the working group, which will monitor changes in consumer prices for socially significant goods and promptly respond to these changes.
At the same time, by January 15, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance must prepare a roadmap for the creation of a single structured directory-catalog of socially significant goods.