Prices rise at a fast pace, winter is expected to “match”

According to reports on the mark, an egg package that last year in August has cost 2.50 euros, in August of this year was sold for 3.55 or 42 percent more expensive.

The 17 percent increase was also in sunflower oil.

From 144 to August 2024, the 1-liter bottle costs 1.69 euros this year.

The rise in prices, according to Economic Ode Chairman Lulzim Rafuna, has been made at a faster pace than before.

We've seen that over 4 percent will be in October, but now we're in September and it's over 4.51. By reducing our production and importing from abroad we import inflation, but we've caused it inside, and we've simulated it from inside through increased electricity bills, and this will reflect in the following months and go on growing, since it is historically known that the price of electricity during the months of October, November, December goes up, as it goes up and consumption”, Rafuna said.

According to him, increased energy prices will affect municipal companies, such as water and waste, further burdening the cost of living.

There is no doubt that we will experience higher inflation, maybe it won't be digital, as it was a few years ago, but it will be the highest known”, Rafuna said.

Based on data from the Kosovo Statistics Agency, inflation in January of this year was 1.5 per cent, while marking continued growth of up to 4.5 per cent in August.

A year ago, in August 2024, inflation was 1.4 percent.

The International Monetary Fund in forecasts for Kosovo has seen price hikes rise by 2025 as 2.25 per cent.

While the Kosovo Central Bank has seen the average inflation rate at 3.3 per cent.
And according to the head of the Association of Producers, the Ajvazi Framework, the cost of the basic consumer basket in August 2025 compared to August 2021 has increased by 47 percent.

“If a family in August 2021 has spent about 199.44 euros on a fixed amount of basic products, in August 2025 for the same amount must pay 293.77 euros. That means 47% more money just to keep the same consumption rate. The biggest price increases are in flour (+62%), white bread (+56%), chicken meat (+66%), bone-free beef (+63%), ground coffee (+67%), sugar (+64%)”, Ajvazi said.

According to a survey by the International Republican Institute, conducted during this year's May-July period, 45 per cent of Kosovo citizens see price hikes as the main problem. Unemployment (19 percent), corruption (6 percent) and political situation (5 percent) are listed in positions 2, 3 and 4 of the list of problems.

In the meantime, 28 percent of citizens viewed the increase in cost of living as the country's main problem.

Price increases have reduced purchasing power, especially for low - income families, who spend much of their budget on basic food and services.

Experts warn that while Kosovo remains dependent on imports, any international price movement will immediately be reflected on the local market.

According to Kosovo Customs data, during the first 9 months of this year goods were imported worth 5 billion and 66m euros, or about half a billion more than in the same period last year.

Disturbing, according to experts, remains the decline in the presence of Kosovo products on international markets. They are for about 30m euros less than they were in the January-September 2024 period.

Last year until August 658m euros were exported goods, while 630m this year, Koha.net reports, follows Periscope