The automated price analysis system created on the government’s initiative cost 5.1 million rubles, but currently operates for only three, not the most sensitive, goods. This was stated by Alyaksandr Lukashenka during today’s government report.
According to him, price analysis via the system is carried out for three items: refrigerators, tyres and bicycles. Lukashenka also noted that a draft decree has been prepared under which 2.5 million rubles per year are requested for the system’s operation. He asked how the system would help producers and protect consumers from unfair intermediaries, what concrete result citizens would see, and how much it would save annually.
“I repeat for those who do not understand — people eat food, not statistics! Therefore, price control must be strict, and price formation fair!” Lukashenka stressed.
He also commented on the inflation rate.
“No matter how much the government may lull us, saying that we slightly underperformed, the fact remains: price growth is 106.8% against a target of 105%,” he said.
At the same time, Lukashenka drew attention to the fact that many essential goods had risen in price much more sharply. Pork prices increased by 15%, beef by 12%, fish by 11%, milk and kefir by 9–10%, butter — of which 40,000 tonnes are stored in warehouses — by 8%, buckwheat by 11%, confectionery by almost 15%, and carrots and cabbage by 19–27%.
The price analysis system was proposed by the government headed by Raman Halouchanka. Responsibility for it lay with First Deputy Prime Minister Mikalai Snapkou. The system is intended to track prices for imported and Belarusian goods.
“In essence, this is about the ability to see online the entire chain of price formation, from the moment a product comes into existence to its appearance on store shelves,” Halouchanka said in the summer of 2024.
In September last year, the head of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade, Artur Karpovich, said that the system was already operating.
“Using its functionality, it is possible on a daily basis to build and accordingly control chains of price changes from the stage of import into the country or production of goods to their sale in the retail network. Simultaneously with the collection, processing and aggregation of data on actual prices, the system will make it possible to generate predictive analytics using methods and algorithms of artificial intelligence. We are continuing to work on this this year as well,” he said.
At that time, Karpovich said that the list of tracked goods was planned to be expanded by October. However, judging by Lukashenka’s remarks, this has not happened.
