Trade ministry unable to curb the frenzy of the prices
The foodstuffs wholesale dealers have indicated that the prices are set to increase by 10% for each product, covering thus the profit margin allocated to them and called on the authorities to proceed to a tax rebate to offset this loss, otherwise the consumers will have to stand for this rise.
- Echourouk reporter yesterday met a number of them and collected contradictory views over the compulsory use of invoices, as one of them has indicated that the problem of taxes occurred in 1975, noting that he was not against the authorities’ move which is designed to regulate the tax system.
- But he criticized some illegal practices used by some to evade taxation saying” There are many who use shady practices to avoid paying taxes”.
- Another wholesaler has indicated that prices stood still arguing that 5 liter can of oil is sold 730 Algerian Dinars on the wholesale market but another one has asserted that the same product was sold 630 AD two weeks ago.
- A fourth wholesaler has noted that he would rather deal with a foreign operator than a domestic one, showing two SMS received yesterday on his mobile phone where one has set the price to 680 AD while the other one has informed him that the new price was 730 AD.
- As to sugar, one of the wholesalers has noted that the invoice’s price was 105 Algerian Dinars and another one added that he was selling it 115 AD , denying any involvement in this crisis “ we are at the service and the government alike, the total fares of truck are estimated at 19 million Algerian Dinars while their profit margin doesn’t exceed 5000 AD”.
- The wholesaler has further added that the stringent measures should be applied at the ports’ level and factories not at their levels, noting that the prices of the other foodstuffs remained stable.