Food prices rose again in August, while transport became cheaper. However, the statistical data do not yet include the impact of the increase in petrol and diesel prices, which took effect today, September 8.

According to a statement from the State Statistical Office, inflation in August was 0.4% compared with July and 2.6% compared with the same month a year earlier. A month earlier, monthly inflation stood at 0.1%, while annual inflation was 2.3%, indicating an acceleration in the rise in costs.

In August, the most significant monthly increase in prices was recorded in recreation, sport and culture, at 3.1%. They were followed by restaurants and accommodation services at 2.5%, personal care at 0.6%, food and non-alcoholic beverages at 0.5%, and housing and energy at 0.2%.

Food recorded a notable change in trend. After falling by 1.1% in July compared with June, prices in this group rose by 0.5% in August. Transport, meanwhile, followed the opposite direction: after increasing by 4.4% in July, its costs fell by 0.8% in August.

The impact of these changes on household spending was calculated using an editorial model comprising 18 everyday products and services, divided according to the SSO’s official groups: food, household bills, household goods, personal hygiene, clothing, transport, recreation and food services.

According to this model, a typical monthly basket worth 32,000 denars would cost around 147 denars more. For a two-member family with modeled expenses of 56,000 denars, the increase would be approximately 287 denars. For a four-member family with a basket worth 85,000 denars, the additional cost would reach around 406 denars.

These are editorial calculations based on the SSO’s group indices and do not constitute an official consumption basket, whether trade-union or state-sponsored.

Meanwhile, in addition to the August inflation data, the KE decided to raise the maximum price of petrol by three denars and that of diesel by six denars per liter. Following the decision, EUROSUPER BS-95 costs 97 denars, EUROSUPER BS-98 is sold for 99 denars, while EURODIZEL costs 101 denars per liter.

For a family that fills up with 50 liters of fuel, the new prices mean an additional expense of 150 denars for petrol or 300 denars for diesel, compared with the previous maximum prices. This is a direct calculation based on the new price list and not an estimate of the impact of fuel on overall inflation. The direct consequences, as well as possible effects on other prices, are expected to be reflected first in the September data.

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Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said exports have recorded greater growth than imports, also narrowing the trade deficit. He was referring to data recorded during the first seven months of the year.

According to Mickoski, the July figures exceeded expectations, while the increase in imports was mainly driven by high prices for oil and oil products. If prices in this sector stabilize, the prime minister expects the trade deficit to decrease further.

“The initial data for the first month of the third quarter, which is July, are truly above our expectations, particularly when it comes to exports, which, I repeat, are growing faster than imports. Imports, meanwhile, are increasing because of the high prices of oil and its products. If that part of the market were to stabilize, then that difference would be even greater and coverage would be even higher. This means that the trade deficit would be even smaller, which for me is truly another indicator that we can finally speak of a consolidated situation, considering where we were 25-26 months ago,” Mickoski said.

He stressed that these indicators had been achieved amid a difficult international climate, as the world faces energy and economic crises. At the same time, the European Union recorded growth of 1.2%, while the eurozone grew by just 1%.

Mickoski announced that gross domestic product growth was approximately 3% in 2024 and 3.5% in 2025. During the first half of this year, growth reached 3.7%, while the expectation is that the year will end with growth of between 3.5% and 4%.

“We ended 2024 with gross domestic product growth of approximately 3%, 2025 at 3.5%, and this year we are at 3.7% in the first half. We expect to end the year between 3.5% and 4% at a time when we are facing the greatest energy crisis the world has seen in living memory, the war in Ukraine, as well as the growing economic crisis in Europe, and I think this represents a truly good and positive result,” Mickoski said.

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he believes that over the next three years, Macedonia will become a much better place to live than it is currently. /tv21

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The State Statistical Office announced that the cost-of-living index, which is used to measure inflation, rose by 0.1% in July compared with June this year.

The most significant increase, of 4.4%, was recorded in the transport sector. Price increases were also registered in recreation and culture, housing, and hospitality services.

On the other hand, food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded the largest decrease, of 1.1%, while furnishings and household equipment also declined.

Compared with the same period a year earlier, the cost of living in July was 2.3% higher, while retail prices rose by 1.8%.

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According to him, the country is going through an extremely difficult period. He stressed that there are currently two wars underway, which he described as serious. Mickoski added that, based on the latest information he has received, the war in the Persian Gulf is beginning to escalate again, while the war in Ukraine is also continuing. In this situation, he said, the main challenge remains ensuring timely and sufficient energy supplies for citizens and businesses.

Mickoski also said that, statistically, the country has the lowest fuel prices. He acknowledged that there may be voices linking this to wage levels and the price of petrol and diesel, but underlined that this is a stock market product. According to him, this depends neither on business logic nor on government policies, since it is a product of the stock market, where everyone is supplied from the same share market. He added that what is essential is how the situation is managed from that moment until it is used by citizens, stressing that this has been the case for decades.

Speaking about political opponents, he said he would leave that question to those who, according to him, continue to live in a political swamp, such as the opposition and certain structures that in Bitola try to shape public opinion through audiences. He added that, when they are given the opportunity to do something, unfortunately they not only fail to act, but also move backward. For this reason, according to Mickoski, they will always remain political marginals.

As for inflation, Mickoski said it is one of the segments that emerges in such challenging periods. He stressed that in June the country achieved the lowest inflation level compared with all the countries in the region. He also said he was particularly satisfied that food inflation is around 2.5%, for shoes and clothing around 2.1%, that is, below 3%. On the other hand, he clarified that tobacco, tobacco products and alcohol, as well as transport services due to high fuel prices, contribute up to 3.4%, Mickoski said.

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