The Government is considering capping the commercial markup on all food products / Retailers warn that price increases could affect other essential products

Raluca Ioana Draghici

9 November 2026, 18:55

Economy

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The government is considering extending the cap on commercial markups from the 17 basic food products to all food items sold in stores. The measure is being examined amid declining consumption, after months in which the prices of coffee, eggs, milk and cooking oil increased, prompting Romanians to start buying less.

Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu says the cap could encourage people to return to shopping. Currently, commercial markups on some grocery products reach 30–35%. In one example presented, a basket containing kefir, jam, cheese and smoked pork chop costs 92 lei. If the markup were limited to 20%, the price would fall to approximately 81 lei.

Retailers oppose the measure, saying that capping markups does not eliminate the costs of production, transport, energy and distribution. They warn that the pressure could be transferred to non-food products, such as detergents, cleaning products and cosmetics.

The current cap expires on December 31. By then, the government must decide whether to extend it, expand it or abandon it.

Context: The cap on the commercial markup was introduced in 2023 and is assessed based on INS data

Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu previously said that the cap on the commercial markup, currently applied to certain basic food products, could be extended to all food products in retail following rising costs. He then stated that the measure introduced in 2023 had helped temper prices and that overall inflation was two percentage points higher than food inflation, while the current form was due to expire at the end of the year.

Before the decision, the authorities announced that they would analyze inflation data, including developments by product subgroups, with the National Institute of Statistics expected to publish the new figures on November 12. Meanwhile, retailers warned that extending the cap could lead to price increases for non-food products such as detergents, cosmetics, and hygiene items, through a “cost transfer” effect.

Sources

Observator news

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Stiripesurse

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