The Hungarian competition authority, known as GVH, has announced the expansion of its online price tracking system, Árfigyelő, to include an additional 22 product categories, bringing the total to 100. This system allows consumers to monitor the prices of approximately 3,000 different food products across six retail chains in 1,231 stores nationwide. The prices are updated daily, providing accurate and timely information on price changes, including reductions.

Since its launch on July 1, 2023, the Árfigyelő system has included various food categories such as different types of meat, fish, dairy products, rice, rolls, cocoa powder, and ground coffee. The expansion aims to assist consumers in making informed purchasing decisions, especially during the busy Easter shopping period.

In addition to tracking prices, the online system offers convenient features like a customizable shopping list and a map-based store filter, enabling families to save both time and money during their shopping trips. The price cap measures implemented on March 17 have led to significant price reductions in many essential food items, with some prices dropping by 30-40% and others by more than 50%.

The GVH is actively monitoring market processes and the behavior of participants in the food retail sector to protect Hungarian consumers. The authority is particularly focused on preventing anti-competitive collaborations among market players. Currently, the GVH is conducting several investigations into food retail companies suspected of price fixing and misleading advertising practices.