Moldova faces 10% food price surge amid fuel crisis
Food prices in Moldova are projected to rise by up to 10% due to escalating fuel costs, according to Agriculture Minister Ludmila Catlabuga. The Ministry has called for increased market competition and targeted social support to mitigate the impact on consumers.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry is coordinating with the Competition Council to prevent unjustified price hikes. Minister Catlabuga emphasized that regulatory bodies will monitor retail pricing to ensure market transparency during this volatile period.
"We are alerting the authorities responsible for monitoring price formation at the retail level," Catlabuga stated. She noted that the government aims to consolidate efforts to navigate the current crisis without allowing for unproven price surges.
Economic expert Ion Preașcă warns that price adjustments are inevitable as production and logistics overheads climb. Since the onset of the Middle East conflict, diesel prices have surged by over 60%, directly affecting the agricultural supply chain.
Experts suggest that the government should focus on facilitating fuel flows to boost supply rather than imposing price caps. Direct social aid for at-risk populations is recommended to prevent market shortages that often follow rigid price controls.
Recent data shows Moldova’s consumer prices rose by 0.5% in February alone. Year-on-year inflation has now exceeded 5%, placing further pressure on household budgets and the national pension system.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
