Chairperson of the National Association of Consumers of Armenia Melita Hakobyan said it is no secret that Armenian businessmen think of gaining additional profit on the threshold of New Year holidays, specifically, this trend is observed in the consumer market.

This is not true for construction material and household appliances, prices for which are lowered for the period, Hakobyan told a press conference on December 7.

“The country’s authorities should develop a policy of price suppression, as it is done in civilized countries, where big sale is an ordinary phenomenon before the holidays,” she said.

“The situation in Armenia is quite opposite. Enterprises (80% of them being importers) inflate prices to the detriment of consumers,” she added.

Hakobyan urged relevant government agencies to control the situation.