The Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) is expanding the scope of its inspections aimed at identifying and curbing economically unjustified price hikes for goods and services. The institution is mobilizing its full inspection capacity, acting proactively across the entire country. This work is being carried out through a combination of on-site inspections at retail outlets, continuous monitoring of e-commerce, detailed analysis of information submitted to the "How Much Does It Cost" portal, and immediate responses to complaints and reports received from citizens.
CCP experts are conducting precise monitoring of price dynamics, focusing on market segments where official data or internal analyses reveal significant price increases. For any good or service where a markup is detected, traders are required to provide the relevant documentation and evidence to justify the reasons, scale, and economic logic behind the change.
Since August 9, the scope of the inspections has been significantly expanded, focusing on the following areas:
- The "Entertainment, Sports, and Culture" sector, which includes public swimming pools, water parks, gyms, sports centers and clubs, tennis courts, playgrounds, as well as dance, yoga, and Pilates schools.
- Services offered in hotels and restaurants, where the price movement for each individual service is tracked.
- Online trade and services, such as hairdressing, barbering, and cosmetic procedures, where prices are compared against previous periods.
- Trade in over 1,000 types of home and garden products, including construction and repair materials, garden equipment, and power tools.
The consumer basket is monitored daily through data in the "How Much Does It Cost" portal, with the commission preparing a comparative analysis every two weeks. It is important to note that the inspection does not stop at identifying a higher price. Inspectors analyze in depth the pricing methods, supply and production costs, cost price, and the specific contribution of each individual factor to the final amount paid by the customer. Between August 9 and August 31, 56,270 price items from 77 traders were analyzed; 54 of these showed an increase, which led to a request for written justifications.
The intensive activity of the CCP will continue throughout September, with an emphasis on preparations for the start of the school year. Inspections will focus on the prices of backpacks, school uniforms, supplies, and other accessories, as well as educational services, including language courses and tutoring centers. Through this, the commission aims for preventative intervention at a time when household expenses traditionally rise. Upon finding an unjustified increase, the trader is required to prove its link to actual economic circumstances.
For established violations, the law provides for sanctions for sole traders and legal entities in the amount of 10,000 to 100,000 euros. These penalties are not applied collectively but are imposed individually for each affected good or service. If the same item with an unjustifiably high price is offered in several locations belonging to the same trader, the violation is sanctioned separately for each retail point. BTA reminds that in the period from August 8, 2025, to August 8, 2026, the CCP conducted 14,535 inspections in connection with the mandatory dual pricing display in levs and euros across the country.