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 fourth quarter of this year amounts to €2,050.

This is 1.45 percent or €30 less compared to the previous quarter.

Of the ten categories of expenses defined in the Methodology for Calculating the Standard Consumer Basket, two categories saw a decrease in the fourth quarter: food expenses, down by 2.33 percent, and education and culture expenses, down by 22.22 percent. In contrast, increases were recorded in two other categories: housing and utility expenses, up by 1.96 percent, and personal hygiene and health care products, up by 7.41 percent.

Based on prices collected for 132 food items from the three largest retail chains in Montenegro, the cost of food products in the fourth quarter was determined to be €630.

“Compared to the third quarter, when this category of expenses amounted to €645, there was a decrease of €15, or 2.33 percent. This is the first time that, after three consecutive quarters, we have recorded a decline in this category of expenses.,” USSCG stated in a press release, adding that the price survey was conducted before the Government decided to reintroduce the ‘price capping’ initiative.

Compared with the last year’s fourth quarter, union consumer basket increased by €75, or approximately 3.8 percent over the one-year period.