Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to the Training, Information and Trade Union Research Centre (CEISI) of the Union of Free Trade Unions (USSCG), the union consumer basket for the third quarter of this year amounts to €2,080.

This is 3.23 percent or €65 more compares to the previous quarter.

Of the ten categories of expenses defined in the Methodology for Calculating the Standard Consumption Basket, four categories saw an increase in the third quarter: foodstuffs by 2.38 percent, housing and utilities by 4.08 percent, education and courses by 28.57 percent, and summer holidays by 8 percent.

Based on prices collected for 132 food items from the three largest retail chains in Montenegro, the cost of food products in the third quarter was determined to be €645.

“Compared to the second quarter, when this category of expenses amounted to €630, there was an increase of €15, or 2.38 percent,” USSCG stated in a press release.

This marks the third consecutive quarter in which food costs have risen.