At Monday’s session of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), social partners discussed several issues of importance to workers, employers, and the standard of living of citizens, with a particular focus on the average consumer basket prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Labor.
Macedonian Minister of Economy and Labor Besar Durmishi notes that the goal of the new methodology for calculating the consumer basket is to provide an objective, transparent, and statistically grounded representation of actual household expenses, which will serve as a foundation for creating sound economic and social policies.
“Our goal is not to show a lower figure, but to provide a verifiable, transparent, and statistically grounded picture of household expenses. The data should serve as a basis for making responsible decisions and implementing measures that will contribute to improving the standard of living and protecting the purchasing power of citizens,” Minister Durmishi stressed.
According to data from the Ministry of Economy and Labor, the average consumer basket for September 2026 amounted to MKD 58,117 for a four-member household, representing a decrease of MKD 358, or 0.6 percent, compared to August. At the same time, compared to January of this year, the value of the basket has increased by MKD 1,736, or 3.1 percent.
The minister pointed out that these data confirm the need for continuous monitoring of price trends, as well as for a careful assessment of the pressures on family budgets.