The Hungarian government is capping the prices of fresh eggs and potatoes sold in shops, delivery services and supermarkets at the retail price level of those products on Sept. 30.
Gergely Gulyás, the prime minister's chief of staff, told a government press briefing that marketplaces are exempt from the price cap, which will be in force until Dec. 31. The measure is expected to bring the price of eggs down by 25% and that of potatoes by 10%, and curb inflation by 0.1-0.2%. At a meeting on Tuesday, the government pointed to sanctions-related inflation as the main cause of the Hungarian economy’s ailments, Gulyás said. Gas prices jump every time the EU announces new sanctions, he said. That is then mirrored in growing food prices, but the government is committed to reducing inflation by half by the end of 2023, he said. Household energy bills will stay capped up to average consumption, as well as fuel and food price caps for private consumers and interest caps for SMEs. The government is committed to its scheme to cap energy bills, Gulyás said, adding that the network usage fee must not be passed on to households next year. The government will impose a tax on power producers that provide electricity balancing services, generating 80 billion forints (EUR 199m) over two years, he added.