The former chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) Stoil Alipiev criticized today, May 1, 2026, the state of the market in Bulgaria, stating that the prices of basic food products are artificially inflated. On the air of Bulgaria ON AIR, he pointed out that the consumer basket has already reached a value of 59 euros. According to him, the lack of effective control over unfair trade practices allows traders to maintain high levels that do not correspond to economic logic, while in developed European countries shopping is more profitable.
Alipiev expressed serious doubts about the official reports of the control bodies, according to which between 7,000 and 8,000 inspections were carried out over a period of two to three months. According to him, this is physically and mathematically impossible given the current state of the administration.
"One inspection lasts about two hours. Elementary mathematical calculations show that so many inspections can be carried out in several years", commented Stoil Alipiev. He added that the numerical composition of the CPC has been reduced by two-thirds, which further reduces the capacity for real supervision of the market.
One of the expert's most worrying conclusions is related to the way in which prices have transformed after the adoption of the single European currency. Alipiev emphasized that instead of correct currency conversion, the market has witnessed a direct reversal of values.
"The big problem is that the market was let go. The products from the consumer basket have turned from what was nominally in leva to euro", said the former chairman of the CPC. This process, according to him, is the main reason why food prices in our country exceed those in countries with much more developed economies.
Criticism was also directed at the lack of pressure on large food chains and payday loan companies. Stoil Alipiev emphasized that the unjustified price increases are a direct result of unfair trade practices that remain outside the focus of inspections.
"If there is no control there, prices are established as commercial. The ceiling on markups represents price administration, and the real problem is the lack of informed consent for correct offering," concluded Stoil Alipiev. He recalled that over 60% of Bulgarians now mainly buy goods on promotion, which further distorts the market and the quality of products.