Lukashenko: prices and income growth to be correlated

On meeting the Council of Ministers heads today, Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that a balance has to be struck between price growth and income of the population

“Winter season is coming and, apart from anti-epidemic issues, our task is to restrain prices so that they do not exceed a level acceptable to the population. This especially concerns food products,” the President stressed.

The Head of State noted that price growth is among the top three issues that people are worried about. “If someone is ready to oversee this topic, then do – so that there will not be any unpleasant conversation on this issue later. People do not want to understand that the rise in prices for some goods means the well-being of the workers who produce these goods,” he said, adding, “If a tractor price rises, then the tractor plant and its employees get more money. Meanwhile, villagers do not care about the well-being of the Minsk Tractor Works staff. They are always complaining about growing prices for tractors.”

In turn, townspeople are not happy about rising prices for potatoes or other food and, correspondingly, additional earnings for farmers. “Collective and state-run farms have generated additional income through this but townspeople do not care. People do not think in such way. It’s our weak point, in fact. We need to explain this to people. However, there is a very important topic: a price-to-income ratio. People don't care about prices in supermarkets if they have money to buy products. This ratio and this balance must be maintained at all costs. I want the Government, trade unions and deputies to get an understanding of this,” the President stated.