The Ministry of Economy and Labor, in cooperation with the State Market Inspectorate, prepared a comparative analysis of the price movements of essential food and non-food products, in accordance with the conclusion adopted at the 162-nd session of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The analysis covers the prices of 55 best-selling products, monitored in four retail chains with different price positioning, in the period from February 1 to April 1, 2026.
The results show that in the analyzed period, a minimal increase in sales prices of 0.43% was registered, while purchase prices recorded a slightly higher increase of 1.01%. At the same time, the average gross profit margin among retailers decreased from 16.28% to 15.80%, which indicates that part of the pressure from the increase in purchase prices was absorbed by retailers, in order to maintain price stability for citizens.
Regarding the individual categories:
-a slight increase of 0.45% was recorded in essential food products, with the largest increase in yogurt, cheese, eggs and oil;
-a decrease of 1.01% was recorded in soft drinks;
-a decrease of 0.86% was recorded in fruits and vegetables, despite the growth in tomatoes and onions;
-a growth of 1.42% was recorded in essential hygiene products.
The Ministry assesses that price movements in the analyzed period are moderate and under control, thanks also to the reduction in trade margins.
The Ministry of Economy and Labor will continue to actively monitor market conditions and, if necessary, will propose appropriate measures for price stabilization.