-
.
- Ελληνικά
The Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, aiming to support consumers, especially in difficult economic conditions such as those we have been experiencing for the last three years, conducts, through the Consumer Protection Service, systematic market controls and promotes measures to mitigate the negative impact of inflation on households, such as the proposal to develop the electronic application "e-kalathi" for real-time presentation of prices of consumer products. Other measures that have been promoted include the application of a zero VAT rate on food and basic products, the promotion of a bill to set price ceilings in markets where sufficient competition cannot develop by definition, etc.
The "e-kalathi" will be an important tool for improving market transparency, as it will provide consumers with immediate information, on a daily basis, on the prices of basic products for a household. At the same time, it will provide the possibility to compare prices and create a shopping basket with the most advantageous and economical options.
The consumer will be a multiple beneficiary of the electronic application "e-kalathi", as he will be able to use it and carry out market research at a time and place of his choice, avoiding the hassle and cost of travelling between supermarkets.
The benefit of the platform is supported by the results of the survey of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on September 12, 2023, during which a sham purchase of 44 consumer staples was conducted. Two shopping baskets were created in different supermarkets, with the cheapest and most expensive identical products respectively, from the same shelf. This survey showed that the differences between the cheapest and most expensive baskets were in the range of €46.67 (35% deviation) and €56.87 (40% deviation), demonstrating that with careful choices there is scope for households to save a significant amount of money. For this reason, the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry will continue its efforts to adopt the "e-kalathi" electronic platform, which will be an important and useful tool in the hands of Cypriot consumers.
(AF/SX)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
Source[/P][/URL][/P]
