The government is considering measures to contain food prices to be adopted in the framework of a new anti-crisis package before the end of the year, revealed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Sánchez told a press conference that the third package of measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis derived from the war in Ukraine will be very ambitious, with new proposals and the extension of others already in force, Cinco Dias and EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
The prime minister stressed that the government is currently analysing how to better contain food prices, which are directly fueling inflation.
He insisted that the progressive executive wants to adopt similar measures as the ones previously approved to reduce the impact of soaring fuel and energy prices.
According to official data, inflation in Spain has fallen by around four points in the last four months to 6.8% in November, mainly due to a slight reduction in fuel and energy prices.
On the other hand, food continues to rise and, in October, it stood at 15.4%, the highest level recorded in Spain since 1994.
Particularly high was the rise in the price of pulses and vegetables, meat, milk, cheese, and eggs.
Sánchez has put forward this new measure after a failed attempt to cap prices in the shopping basket through an agreement with large supermarket chains.
Meanwhile, the Government is considering extending the current discount of 20 cents per litre of fuel, which expires on 31 December.
The Executive’s decision depends on the price of a barrel of oil and the outlook for its evolution in the coming months, official sources explained.
(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.EURACTIV.es)
Source: euractiv.com
