Overview of established examples of price monitoring practises in Europe

This study explores established examples of price monitoring practices across Europe, highlighting the diverse strategies employed by national authorities to ensure market transparency, protect consumers, and maintain fair competition. It examines the roles of key institutions such as national competition authorities, consumer protection agencies, and statistical offices, as well as the European Commission's efforts to harmonize practices across member states. Examples from EU countries illustrate a range of methodologies, from traditional data collection to the use of digital platforms and real-time analytics. The study underscores the importance of price monitoring in responding to inflationary pressures, detecting market distortions, and informing public policy. By analyzing current approaches, the paper provides insight into best practices and identifies opportunities for further innovation and cross-border collaboration in the evolving European economic landscape. Due to various manipulative tactics and innovative pricing strategies employed in Croatia by some retailers, the measures fell short in fostering a genuinely competitive market environment or in effectively curbing price increases and inflation in the agricultural and food sectors through increased consumer awareness. In Slovenia, this approach has not produced the desired results. As for Croatia, its effectiveness remains to be seen. However, it is important to note that a significant share of food purchasers in Croatia are tourists, who are unlikely to engage with such price monitoring tools frequently.