Municipal councilor Denis Șova warned that the abolition of caps on trade markups starting April 30 will hit prices for bread and socially important goods.
Previously, markups were limited to 10–20%, which at least partially restrained inflation. Now that control mechanism has been eliminated.
According to Șova, people earning less than 3,500 lei per month are especially at risk. The rise in prices, he says, will become visible already in May statistics. In his view, the reasons are simple: no elections are expected anytime soon, while business interests remain untouched.
Every time worsening living conditions are discussed, authorities attach justifications to the “good news,” as if that somehow makes life easier for ordinary people.
But people are not interested in explanations — they want solutions. And there are none. Only constant reassurances that “everything is under control,” when clearly it is not.
The opposition argues that the reasons cited by the government are misleading. The real issue, they say, is the economy’s dependence on debt. Those loans must be repaid, but there is not enough money inside the country, nor is there effective domestic production. As a result, social protections are being cut.
Life Is Becoming More Expensive
In April, average consumer prices in the country rose by 1.8%. Over the year, inflation reached 6.8%. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the sharpest increases were recorded in:
• Diesel fuel — up 68%
• Gasoline — up 29%
• Passenger transportation — up 20%
• Drinking water and sewage services — up 15%
• Electricity — up 15%
• Eggs — up 41%
• Vegetables — up 24%
• Fruit — up 9%
• Bread — up 6%
• Clothing and footwear — up 5%
Economic expert Vladimir Golovatiuc believes events in the Middle East have added further momentum to price growth. Since February, annual inflation has accelerated every month.
“Considering that Economy Minister Eugen Osmocescu stated that the first negative consequences of the war in the Persian Gulf will appear in June, one can only guess how high prices will climb this summer. In any case, the minister clearly pointed to double-digit inflation. That means the population will have to tighten their belts even further,” Golovatiuc wrote.
According to official data, Moldova remains one of Europe’s leaders in inflation growth rates. Critics say this is perhaps the only “success” the ruling party can claim.
- While officials speak about a European future, people continue leaving the country. Moldova also ranks among the global leaders in population decline.
Agrarian Moldova Suddenly Left Without Its Own Food
Former Deputy Prime Minister Alexandru Muravschi stated that the country’s food deficit has already exceeded 200 million dollars. For a nation historically dependent on agriculture, this sounds like a major failure. Farmers are going bankrupt, prices in stores are rising, production is falling, and domestic food products are becoming scarcer. Meanwhile, authorities continue talking about “successful reforms.”
According to experts, farmers have effectively been abandoned without proper support: high taxes, expensive fuel, and burdensome loans are crushing the sector while costs continue rising. Now, the cap on trade markups for essential food products has also been abolished, meaning prices may increase even further. Once again, ordinary citizens will bear the burden.
Critics describe the situation as an “effective” scheme in reverse: domestic producers are being destroyed, imports are increasing, and prices are soaring — all in a country where agriculture was once the backbone of the economy.
What People Are Saying
“Lidia Avdeyevna will die from this!” one passerby exclaimed.
“Prices keep rising and rising, all supposedly ‘for the good of humanity.’ We’ll survive… I’m joking, my dear, it’s terrible, especially for us pensioners,” said an elderly woman.
Another resident of Chisinau commented:
“In every country there are socially vulnerable groups, and they need support. There should be some kind of limits on the minimum food basket. Prices cannot rise endlessly. Naturally, this will hit people hard, because most pensioners live below the poverty line. And not only pensioners. Society here is becoming extremely divided.”
One Moldovan man added:
“It’s obvious what will happen. Now they’ve been given freedom — they’ll keep increasing prices. Recently I bought cottage cheese for a bit over 30 lei. Then on April 2 I went back to the store — the same product already cost 50. So now they have an excuse.”
