Pricewatch - monitoring the price conversion of tolars into euros

On the basis of the recommendations by the European Commission and the European Parliament, and the experience of the countries that have already adopted the euro, pricewatch is the principal tool for preventing possible price surges following the introduction of the euro. These could be the result of incorrect rounding when converting tolars into euros, or intentional price hikes by providers of goods and services, taking advantage of the changeover.

In addition to the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, which monitors the effects of the euro changeover on the prices of consumer goods and inflation, the non-governmental Slovene Consumers' Association (SCA) is the second institution conducting independent monitoring of the prices of goods and services. Together with the International Consumer Research Institute (ICORI), the SCA monitors the prices of 104 goods (accounting for roughly two thirds of the sample) and services (one third of the sample) over a three-month period. The sample also contains the goods and services that saw the biggest price surges in other countries (hospitality services, hairdressers, drycleaners, parking fees, lottery, etc.)

Pricewatch is being conducted in all Slovenian regions, in both public and private providers of goods and services, and also includes other types of selling, such as doorstep and distance selling.

The principal aim of pricewatch is informing consumers, while it can also act as an informal tool to put pressure on the providers of goods and services who decide to radically increase prices. The results of the pricewatch campaign are published on the SCA web site and in the media. The first results were published in July. The survey was repeated in September and December, and will continue well into 2007. For December results see: http://www.evro.si/en/slo-and-euro/news-events/2006-12-14/.

Consumers can report any instances of incorrect conversion of tolars into euros to a consumer hotline 080 80 22 or refer to www.evropotrosnik.si.