FAS will request information on purchase and retail prices for products from the largest retailers to check the “fairness” of the markups

The Federal Antimonopoly Service will request information on purchase and retail prices for 25 basic foodstuffs from the largest retail chains in order to check the “fairness” of the markups. About it informs “Kommersant” with reference to sources in the market.

According to the publication, the list of socially significant products that will be monitored includes 24 items of socially significant products – meat, fish, milk, eggs, cereals, salt, tea, bread and others, as well as beets. The FAS will check the “fairness” of the markups for these products and, if necessary, will propose to adjust the prices.

As the newspaper notes, such a decision of the antimonopoly authority was preceded by complaints from the population about the rise in food prices. In order to prevent an unreasonable increase in the cost of socially important products, FAS last Friday conducted unscheduled inspections in large chain stores Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Karusel, Lenta and Magnit.

According to the newspaper, the report on food prices, which the FAS prepares on behalf of the President of Russia by September 1, may become quarterly. Rosstat and the Ministry of Industry and Trade are already collecting information on prices on a regular basis.

The market fears that increased regulation may lead to a decrease in the supply of unprofitable assortments, and this will entail a shortage of products on the shelves and an increase in prices.