Price controls will be extended for six months, and authorities are contemplating including in the list of regulated goods coffee, pasteurized milk, sugar, and oil.

The Price Adjustment Committee has recommended that the 22 products under price regulation be maintained, and that 4 more be included. This is intended to force lowering of prices for the products involved, a measure that has been prolonged for the second time this year.

Jorge Arango, Minister of Agricultural Development, told Panamericaamerica.com.pa that “… the increase in some prices of meat and milk products, solutions for which have not yet been analyzed by businesses, including Industrias Lácteas S.A. (Estrella Azul) and Empresa Panameña de Alimentos (EPA-Bonlac), which sent a notification to the Acodeco between the months of February and March to increase the cost … “.

On the issue of shortage of products in supermarkets, Minister of Trade and Industry, Meliton Arrocha, stated that “… there are many factors which lead to products not being available. He said one reason is that the lowering the price of the product stimulate demand , which makes it sell faster and therefore, it runs out … “.

Source: Panamaamerica.com.pa