The price increase is also facilitated by the small theft epidemic / day

« In recent months, prices have raised more than forty of our suppliers in different product groups, » R. Okmanis revealed. « This, of course, is also reflected in the prices that the buyer sees on the shelves of the store. The global process is mainly affected by increased coffee, chocolate, oil prices. In the alcoholic beverage and tobacco sector, the increase in prices is due to changes in excise tax rates. »

However, retail prices are also affected by other factors. « First of all, shopkeepers have significantly increased its administrative burden on the price tags to indicate the country of origin of the products. In order not to penalize for non -compliance, there is a lot of confusion and the issues that the salesmen have to be spent on, » explained R. Okmanis.

Secondly, the small theft from the shops, and the value of stolen goods, is most often covered by the retailers themselves. « Thieves are getting shameless – while one speaks to the seller, the accomplice in the bag is thrown in the products or removes, for example, a whole box of beer. If you are released or caught, promise to arrive at other times. Small and medium -sized stores usually cannot afford security guard.

« Such theft often continues the value of the stolen items that the value of stolen items are so high that criminal proceedings are being initiated. It is a big problem for shopkeepers because they feel threatened and unsafe, and suffer material losses, » said Okmanis.

In summary, he emphasized that while the overall consumer price level in the country is influenced by a very different set of factors, the best advice for buyers would be to carefully evaluate prices at different outlets without relying on the promises of aggressive ads, but choosing the most favorable offers, often in smaller shops and e-shops.

« LAs » was founded in 2007 as SIA « Latvijas Traders Union », which unites small and medium -sized Latvian food retail companies to reduce their costs, improve competitiveness in the domestic market and take common marketing measures. The network currently has 260 companies with more than 500 outlets throughout Latvia.