Government Adopts Seven Measures to Regulate Markets, Combat Prices
The Algerian government has adopted a package of seven urgent measures to regulate markets and combat rising prices of basic consumer goods. These directives, issued by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a Cabinet meeting, aim to ensure product availability across the country and protect citizens' purchasing power. The actions specifically target curbing speculation and addressing market imbalances that impact essential commodity prices, reflecting a broader strategy for economic stability.
Among the key measures is the strict regulation of activity for intermediaries between producers and consumers, alongside an immediate investigation into suspected monopolies and price increases by certain imported meat suppliers. The government also mandated price caps and defined profit margins for a range of goods, including vegetables, legumes, pasta, and meat, while considering all production and marketing costs. Furthermore, a new mechanism will enable the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with governors, to purchase and store surplus local products, releasing them into the market proactively when initial signs of price volatility appear. Daily, decentralized monitoring of widely consumed goods by trade directors, supported by intensified field inspections from the Ministry of Internal Trade, is also being implemented. This is complemented by the creation of a digital database, a joint initiative between the Ministries of Interior and Internal Trade and the Digitalization Department, to facilitate rapid price monitoring and serve as an early warning system.
These market regulation efforts coincide with ongoing discussions for Algeria's 2027 Finance Bill. A parliamentary representative stated that President Tebboune directed against including new taxes that would affect citizens' purchasing power in the upcoming budget. The finance bill, as presented, reportedly does not feature new taxes or increases to existing ones, and is expected to include wage increases for the coming year, aligning with the goal of preserving purchasing power and fostering economic stability. Furthermore, the Cabinet meeting addressed progress on significant infrastructure projects, including the Hadaba-Annaba mining railway and its associated dock, emphasizing its importance as a regional and Mediterranean priority. The immediate launch of the Laghouat-M'sila-Ain Salah-Tamanrasset railway was also ordered, alongside accelerated efforts to provide desalinated water to priority regions and enhance the protection of groundwater resources.
