Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said on Thursday that the government is aware inflation has risen and that “the cost of living is increasing”, which is a cause for concern but “not yet a reason for alarm”.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the 42nd Ovibeja agricultural fair in Beja. where the Council of Ministers is meeting today. the head of government was asked about the latest inflation figures released by Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE).
According to the INE’s flash estimate, the inflation rate accelerated to 3.4% in April, up by 0.7 percentage points compared with the previous month, once again driven largely by rising fuel prices.
“We are all concerned and apprehensive, but this is not yet a reason for alarm. There is no need to anticipate problems that can still be avoided,” Montenegro said.
He assured that the government is “closely monitoring price developments, particularly the prices of goods that are most essential to people’s daily lives”, adding that the executive would continue to act “with responsibility and prudence, adapting measures to the evolution of the situation”.
The prime minister highlighted both direct government support for families facing higher fuel costs and indirect assistance provided to the transport sector, covering both freight and passenger services.
“We know the cost of living is increasing and that the inflation rate has now been revised, precisely during the journey I made from Campo Maior to Beja, from 2.7% to 3.4%,” he acknowledged.
He added that some goods have risen “far more than that”, noting that sharper price increases have been observed in recent weeks.
“We will assess the circumstances with responsibility and prudence, but we will continue to act in support of families and businesses,” he stressed.
During his visit to the institutional pavilion at Ovibeja, the agricultural fair which runs until Sunday, Montenegro also referred to the afternoon’s Council of Ministers meeting, announcing that “several decisions aimed at the agri-food sector” would be adopted. He said these measures could also help, “to some extent”, contain inflationary pressures.
The prime minister further indicated that the government intends to hold decentralised Council of Ministers meetings across the country on a monthly basis, each focused on specific thematic issues.
Source: LUSA
