Are Prices Really 25 Percent Lower? Checking Mickoski’s Comparison With Europe
Racin.mk’s critique says the prime minister confused the inflation rate with the price level; statistics show inflation of 2.7 percent in September, but that does not answer how the basket compares with Europe.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, in an interview with Alsat, compared the third quarters of 2022 and 2026. According to Racin.mk, he cited inflation of about 17 percent in 2022 here against just over 10 percent in Europe, and concluded that prices were then 67 percent higher. For 2026 he cited inflation of 2.57 percent here against 3–3.3 percent in Europe, concluding that prices are now 25 percent lower.
The critique is that inflation measures how fast prices rise, not what they cost compared with Europe: “lower inflation does not mean lower prices.” According to Racin.mk, neither comparison says whether the basket here is cheaper or more expensive than the European one. Based on State Statistical Office indices, the piece calculates that the general level of consumer prices in September 2026 is about 17 percent higher than in September 2022. The critique contains no response from the prime minister.
What is confirmed by numbers: the statistics office reported that the cost of living in September was 2.7 percent higher than a year earlier and unchanged month on month; food rose 0.5 percent, household equipment 1.3 percent, and housing, water, energy and fuels 0.2 percent. Mickoski cites 2.57 percent while the office reported 2.7 percent for September; the difference is most likely the measurement period, but that is not confirmed in the texts we read. For a real comparison with Europe and for living standards, the critique calls for purchasing power and wages.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 10, 2026
