Food for a family of four costs more than the minimum wage: 26,170 denars against 26,046

The minimum wage in Macedonia is 26,046 denars. Food and drinks for a family of four in October cost 26,170 denars. The difference is 124 denars - and in the wrong direction. A worker on the minimum wage, according to the calculation of the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia, cannot cover even the dinner table with their entire pay, let alone electricity, transport or medicine.

The union's minimum consumer basket reached 70,358 denars in October, up from 69,432 in September. An increase of 926 denars in a single month, of which no less than 911 denars went on food and drinks. In other words, almost the entire monthly price rise is in the thing you can least do without. If the family rents, the bill goes up to 85,733 denars. In ten months the basket has become 3,945 denars more expensive.

Zero inflation on paper

The government, meanwhile, says inflation is under control, and the numbers back it up - at least at first glance. The State Statistical Office reported that monthly inflation in September was zero percent and annual inflation 2.7 percent, below the EU average, where according to Eurostat the rate jumped to 3.8 percent in September. But behind the zero there's a structure: food and soft drinks went up by 0.5 percent, transport got cheaper by 3.4 percent, and recreation and culture by 3.7 percent. Who buys bread every day, and who buys a theatre ticket?

Deputy Economy Minister Marjan Risteski says the ratio has improved: recently inflation has been around 4.5 percent, while wages have grown by more than 7 percent. The ministry even has its own basket, which for August came to 58,475 denars, against the union's 68,675 for the same month. A gap of 10,200 denars between the ministry and the union, both measuring the same family of four. The ministry explains that the methodology is different and that its basket does not include rent or a mortgage.

Whose basket is the real one?

Both figures can be accurate at the same time, and that is exactly the problem. Wages are growing, the average looks good, and the person at the bottom of the ladder only sees the price on the shelf. Wage growth of 7 percent doesn't mean much to a family living on a minimum wage that is smaller than its food bill.

If the government wants to convince people that living standards are protected, the best proof isn't a comparison with Europe, but an answer to one simple question: on what salary does a family of four in Macedonia fill the fridge and then pay the bills too?