In BiH, the boycott of stores continues today

(Patria) - In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the boycott of stores continues today, which was organized yesterday and last Friday - January 31st - due to enormously high prices of groceries and their unstoppable rise.

In this way, consumers across the country want to send a message to the competent authorities and retail chains that it is high time to stop the price surge with concrete measures.

Citizens are persistent and do not want to give up despite the figures from the tax authorities which showed higher consumption on the day of the first boycott last week.

An informal group of citizens calls for public unity, with the message that it is time for society to wake up because, as they state, only prices are rising in BiH - and politicians' salaries.

Citizens also approached the call for a boycott seriously yesterday, writes Federalna.ba. There were significantly fewer usual crowds, long queues, and endless columns of cars circling shopping center parking lots than usual.

While citizens are trying to force retail chains to lower prices of at least basic groceries through boycotts, the government has again resorted to the same measure - capping prices.

According to announcements, they plan to cap the prices of 50 products. Citizens consider this measure ineffective.

The informal group of citizens "Boycott in BiH" warns that some retail chains will take the opportunity to raise prices of products before the announced capping. They assess the boycott action as successful and believe it has already yielded certain results. They say they will not stop.

- I believe in the citizens of BiH, their social responsibility and political awareness that this one small step can make a big step for them and their pockets - says the representative of the informal group "Boycott in BiH", Suad Đozić.

The Association of Consumers of SBK says that consumers have finally shown strength and unity, which has already resulted in lower prices in some retail chains.

- What we really saw on the ground, we think the turnover was significantly lower than the day before, than a week before, and we believe that consumers have shown their strength.

This was already seen during last week, where there were a series of meetings between the Ministry of Trade on one side, and on the other side, some chains lowered the prices of certain products - states the president of the Association Club of Consumers of Central Bosnia, Admir Arnautović.

Let us note, the first boycott was held last Friday and lasted one day. The plan is for this week's boycott to last two days (yesterday and today).

Considering that Sunday is a non-working day, it can be expected that the revenues of retail chains will be reduced.

Retail stores are empty or half-empty, but the Tax Administration of the Federation of BiH is summing up the numbers. But - only on Monday.