The Union Haddiema Maghqudin said yesterday that the prices of 81 per cent of a sample of 200 products remained unchanged when the euro was adopted.

The prices of six per cent of the products fell and 13 per cent became more expensive.

Price reductions ranged from one per cent to eight per cent, with the exception of 17 per cent in the case of a particular brand of sugar.

Price increases ranged from two per cent to 14 per cent, with the exception of a brand of milk which rose by 17 per cent. The union said that 92 per cent of the price increases affected food products and 65 per cent of these were cereal or milk related.

Half of all the price increases were specific to particular establishments and required further analysis, the UHM said. Consequently, a committee consisting of officials from the union, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU and the Finance Ministry will be appointed for the purpose.

These studies will continue until June.