Govt sets up committee to monitor prices and protect household budgets

The government has set up an interministerial committee to monitor price changes and take action to protect household purchasing power, with particular attention to high-demand products as Ramadan approaches.

The committee will bring together several government departments and hold regular meetings to track market developments, assess price movements and ensure the steady supply of basic goods across the country, the head of government’s office said Tuesday.

The announcement followed a meeting in Rabat chaired by head of government Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, which focused on the national economic situation and the impact of price fluctuations on household budgets.

The government acknowledged the financial pressure facing families, particularly low- and middle-income households, amid current economic challenges and rising living costs.

El Mansouri said that protecting purchasing power and maintaining social cohesion remain top priorities under the government’s program.

She pledged to respond to rapid international developments with practical measures to limit the impact of rising prices on people’s daily lives.

The new committee will monitor fluctuations in the prices of essential goods and assess the need for measures to address market disruptions.

The committee’s work will also focus on maintaining normal supplies and preventing shortages, particularly for products that see higher demand during certain periods of the year.

The government said the initiative forms part of its efforts to keep track of issues affecting people’s daily lives and assess how price changes influence the domestic market and household purchasing power.

The Tuesday meeting brought together the ministers of interior, economy and finance, agriculture and fisheries, industry and trade, and transport and logistics, along with the secretary-general of the government.

The committee’s work comes as food prices continue to put pressure on household budgets. According to the High Commission for Planning, food prices rose 1.6% in September compared with August. Meat and vegetables recorded the biggest monthly increases, at 4.3% each, while milk, cheese and eggs became 1.6% more expensive.