Check to see if prices are being kept stable

HCM CITY — The Ministry of Finance has set up teams to inspect 16 manufacturers and distributors who signed up for a Government programme to stabilise prices of essential goods that began last July.

Inspectors will verify if those manufacturers and distributors are selling the goods at the prices they have registered – especially items like drugs, milk, construction materials, fertilisers and animal feed, according to the ministry.

The ministry said it made the move since the prices of many key products have been rising during the past month.

The ministry's Department of Price Management warned the price rise would continue through this month.

Pork prices have gone up by VND1,000 a kilogram this month in the north and VND3,000 in the south.

Beef is up VND5,000 and quarantined chicken, VND5,000 – VND10,000.

Shrimp, codfish and tuna, cuttlefish and other seafood are up VND5,000 – VND15,000.

The department blam-ed the rise on a supply shortfall due to animal epidemics, floods in central provinces.

It also said the prices of sugar, steel, and drugs would rise slightly.

The ministry said it would penalise businesses not conforming to the programme's regulations.

The programme covers essential items, including rice, meat, poultry, eggs, sugar, cooking oil, processed food, and fruit and vegetables, and will run until the end of March next year.

Source: vnagency.com.vn