Opposition says basic food prices rose by 60 to 100%

TIRANA, April 1 – The opposition Socialist Party say prices of basic food products and services have increased by 60 percent to 100 percent in the past eight years making salary increases null. Ilir Beqja, SP’s Secretary for the Programme says bread prices have risen from 50 lek in 2005 to 80 lek in 2013 registering a 60 percent increase. According to Beqja, sugar prices have increased by 75 percent to 140 lek/kg, flour prices by 80 percent to 90 lek/kg, cooking oil prices by 60 percent to 240 lek.
Power prices have also risen to 9 lek/kWh, up 80 percent compared to 2005 while running water prices have doubled.
“Every kind of propaganda with increases in salaries and purchasing power is opposed by official government data. Retail trade in 2012 was lower than retail trade in 2010 and 2011. The decline in retail trade puts into doubt statements about increases in jobs and the real increase in salaries proving that even if the economy has grown, only a small number of people have benefitted from it,” said Beqja.