She confirmed that while the MCCAA has no power to order businesses to sell their products at a certain price, it does oblige them to clearly mark their prices on the shelves.

“The authority can’t force businesses to sell a particular item for, say, €2, but it is obliged to ensure they list their prices. If you see that a pizza costs €30, it’s up to you to decide whether to buy it or not.”

Farrugia Portelli endorsed Prime Minister Robert Abela’s recent statement that the “absolute majority” of Maltese businesses aren’t taking advantage of the Ukraine war to raise their prices to exaggerated levels.

“I go shopping like everyone else and it’s a fact that many products have become more expensive, for example, sunflower oil has shot up by 70% because of the war in Ukraine,” she said. 

“Shipping costs have also increased and many people who work with fireworks have told me that the cost importing a container has increased by more than €5,000.”

“It doesn’t mean that businesses are thieves. Like the Prime Minister said this week, most business owners are hardworking and sincere people who, like most of us, are working to earn a decent living.”

“There are some abusers out there but if someone overcharges you for a beer, you can always buy it from somewhere that sells it at a cheaper price. One must ensure a fair relationship between businesses and consumers.”

Do you think the government should do more to regulate the market?