The union consumer basket for the first quarter of 2025 (January, February, and March) totaled €2,000, reflecting a 1.52% increase in costs (€30) compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, as reported by the Union of Free Trade Unions (USSCG).
The latest research by the Center for Education, Information, and Trade Union Research, a branch of USSCG, indicates that to cover the union consumer basket—essentially the minimum living expenses for a four-member family in Montenegro—two average salaries are required.
The consumer basket, based on the methodology used, includes ten categories of expenses, with changes observed in two categories during the first quarter of 2025.
According to the USSCG, food costs rose by €20 (3.36%) compared to the previous quarter, reaching €595. This increase reflects ongoing fluctuations in the prices of essential foodstuffs and the government’s temporary measures to curb these price changes.
Additionally, housing and utility costs grew by €10 (4.17%) compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, now amounting to €240 per month. This change is attributed to higher electricity consumption during the heating season and increased water supply prices.
When comparing the union consumer basket for the first quarter of 2025 to the same period in 2024, it is clear that the cost has risen by €100 (5.26%) over the past year.
