A consumer boycott against rising prices, which began in Croatia, has now spread to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The protest, initiated in late January, aims to pressure retailers and policymakers to address soaring costs.
In Croatia, the civic initiative Halo Inspector, supported by the NGO European Center for Consumer Excellence, organized a one-day boycott on January 31. Data from Croatia’s Tax Administration indicated a 31% drop in issued invoices by 3:00 PM compared to January 17, when no boycott took place.
Serbia followed suit, with the consumer rights group Efektiva urging shoppers to avoid five major supermarket chains. Journalists from BIRN observed reduced foot traffic in stores, though the boycott was not absolute. The Serbian retail market is highly concentrated, with the three largest supermarket chains controlling nearly half of the market.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also saw participation, but reports suggested the impact was limited as many people continued shopping. In Montenegro, however, supermarket staff in the capital, Podgorica, reported a 30-50% drop in sales.
In North Macedonia, supermarkets braced for fewer customers, with support from local consumer associations. Both the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and the opposition Social Democratic Party backed demands for lower prices, signaling potential political momentum behind the movement.
