Excess profits for years from fruits and vegetables at the expense of consumers, says Marios Drousiotis – Expectation for continued reduction in fuel prices
The publication of the results of a Consumer Protection investigation that led to a reduction in fruit prices and of vegetables asked the President of the Cyprus Consumers Association Marios Drousiotis.
- Unreasonably increased prices of fruits and vegetables. On-the-spot checks
“We expect the Ministry of Public Health to tell us what it did and managed to reduce prices, who was getting these super profitsand why for so many years he left consumers at the mercy of these tricks” he said to KYPE when asked in relation to what was announced on Friday in relation to the reduction in the prices of fruit and vegetables. in terms of prices of fruit and vegetables has been tragic for years, recalling that the KSK has been constantly, in recent years, positioning itself on this issue by asking for research on the course of prices of fruits and vegetables, because consumers were paying more than they should have. “They didn't do it despite the pressures” he added.
And he continued, saying that 15 days ago, however, after the KSK's research on the average prices of 30 products was published, the Consumer Protection Service came and together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment acted towards the producers and did its own investigation from which the reduction in prices resulted, however, without the Consumer Protection Service informing in relation to what it did and the prices were reduced and the percentage of price reduction.
“We compared the new prices that were in the e-coffin on August 8 with the average price that had emerged from the KSK survey for the period April 18 – July 4 and it became clear that there was a 22.95% decrease in the 22 products with the largest green peppers (49%), cherry tomatoes (41%), palkapa pumpkins (41%) and cauliflower (37%) recorded a decrease.
The President of the KSK noted that the YPK acted correctly and took actions to reduce prices, but wondered why this had not been done for so many years.
“We've been stressing over and over that research is needed, we've been over and over that the producer gets less than 50% of the retail price. After the publicity and the pressure it appeared that the YPK could act. The question is why didn't he do it for so many years and let consumers pay?” he said.
At the same time, he called on the YPK to publicize its investigation and to explain who has been receiving the super profits all these years. “Who was getting this 22.95%? The supermarkets? Orchards? The brokers? The wholesalers? Who enjoyed this super profit? Let the YPK tell us”, he noted.
He also assured that the KSK will continue to monitor prices in order to ascertain whether the reductions in prices will last or if they will simply last. “We will watch it and see what happens. Will this decline continue or will it slowly dissipate and return to previous levels?” he mentioned.
“So” he continued, “we expect the YPK to tell us what it did and managed to reduce prices, who was getting these super profits and why it left consumers at the mercy of these scammers for so many years”.
He also noted that since the YPK says it did an investigation, that means a report has been made and there are results. “Why doesn't he give them to us?” asked Mr. Drousiotis.
Expectation for the continuation of the reduction in fuel prices
With regard to fuel prices, the President of the CSK expressed the expectation that the reductions will continue at least for the next week, without however being able to predict the course of prices for the following week.
“From July 17 until today the price of gasoline has decreased .6 cents/liter, diesel 4.2 cents/liter and heating oil 1.8 cents/liter,” he said.
“Small decreases. Our position is that the prices, at least for diesel and heating oil, should have been lower than today'' he noted.
