In Belarus, the list of goods with regulated prices in the consumer basket may be reduced in 2014

September 4, Minsk /BELTA/. The list of price-regulated goods in the Belarusian consumer basket may be reduced in 2014. This was announced by the Minister of Economy of Belarus, Nikolai Snapkov, during a direct telephone line organised by the newspaper "Respublika".

"As you may have noticed, we have been gradually reducing the number of regulated goods in the consumer basket over the last three years. I think that in 2014 we will further reduce this list, and, most likely, bakery products will be removed from it," he noted.

Belarus is gradually moving away from regulated positions in its pricing structure. "The recent increase in bread prices is planned and gradual, in order to gradually bring those types of bread and bakery products that occupy the lowest price segment to the cost level. For all other breads and loaves, prices are formed depending on demand, based on cost and profitability," the minister explained. He pointed out that the Ministry of Economy did not raise bread prices immediately at the beginning of the year, but rather did so gradually, in line with the growth of the population's income.

Nikolai Snapkov stressed that prices for goods in Belarus are not increasing significantly, and this is planned. "A 10% price increase for the same bread is only an additional Br300-400 to its previous price. I want to note that both excise taxes and all decisions we have made regarding regulated price increases are in line with our matrix. We still confirm inflation in 2013 to be around 12%," stated the head of the Ministry of Economy.-0-