Deputies of the Cuban parliament today evaluated the measures adopted to control prices when the constant increases in various products and services remain a concern of citizens.
Havana, Cuba.- A report presented this Wednesday by the Minister of Finance and Prices Vladimir Regueiro before the Economic Affairs Commission of the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP, Parliament), indicated that the consumer price index closed 2022 with a rise of 39 percent.
So far in 2023, an increase of 18 percent has been recorded, and when establishing a comparison with the same stage last year, the rise is 45 percent.
In this context, they issued various guidelines for price control, including cost regulation by local governments for certain impact products, while these same structures can approve sales and service tax rebates.
Other actions include the requirement that state entities adjust their commercial margins and the direct link between budgeted institutions that provide basic services to agree on stable prices and supplies.
When analyzing the application of these measures, the minister pointed out there is little consolidation and systematicity, and the agreement on costs is focused on agricultural products, while other equally basic ones are neglected.
He also mentioned there is a lack of responsibility of the budgeted sector in achieving a direct link with suppliers, and little systematicity in confronting concerted and abusive price violations.
In his speech, Regueiro referred to the forthcoming entry into force this month of resolution 148 of 2023, related to a methodology for the preparation of cost and expense sheets for products and services.
According to the headline, the norm has as a novel element that for the first time both the state and non-state sectors are included in a regulation of this type, an expression of the concept that the Cuban economy is one, made up of all those actors.
In addition, the resolution establishes, for state companies and commercial companies with 100 percent Cuban capital, maximum profit rates by type of activity between 15 and 30 percent, while regulating maximum coefficients for indirect expenses.
According to the owner, these measures are applied when they are aware of the dissatisfaction of the people concerning the issue, and of the responsibility and commitment of the authorities to achieve tangible results in the current complex economic scenario. (PL)
