Store boycott continues in Bosnia and Herzegovina today

(Patria) - In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the store boycott continues today, which was organized yesterday and last Friday - January 31, due to extremely high prices of food staples and their unstoppable rise.

In this way, consumers across the country want to send a message to the relevant 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 tax administrations, which showed higher consumption on the day of the first boycott last week.

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

Citizens took the call for a boycott seriously yesterday as well, reports Federalna.ba. The usual crowds, long lines, and endless columns of cars circling shopping center parking lots were significantly smaller than usual.

While citizens are trying to force retail chains to lower prices of at least basic food staples through the boycott, the authorities have again resorted to the same measure - price freezing.

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

The informal group of citizens "Boycott in Bosnia and Herzegovina" warns that some retail chains will take the opportunity to raise prices on products before the announced freeze. 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina, their social responsibility and political awareness that this one small step can make a big step for them and their pockets - says Suad Đozić, a representative of the informal group "Boycott in Bosnia and Herzegovina".

The Consumer Association of the Central Bosnia Canton states 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 that turnover was significantly lower than the day before, than a week earlier, and we believe that consumers have shown their strength.

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

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).

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

Stores are empty or half-empty, but the figures are being tallied by the Tax Administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However - only on Monday.