VILNIUS, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government will consider measures to enhance competition among shopping centers, support small- and medium-sized businesses and reduce food prices, Lithuania's prime minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Wednesday.
Skvernelis was speaking after meeting with representatives of Lithuania's retail companies which operate country's largest shopping centers.
"I do not agree with representatives of shopping chains who claim that there are no problems in this area and that Lithuania remains a country of low prices," Skvernelis was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office.
In his words, official data from the European Commission show that food prices in Lithuania since 2010 grew "twice faster than raw material prices".
"We are among five European countries where prices grew the fastest and where people spend 21 percent of their budget on food, more is spent only in Romania," Skvernelis added.
The government plans to prepare new measures in three areas such as support of small and medium businesses, increase of competition and enhancing efficiency of state institutions, the government's statement reads.
Limiting working hours of shopping malls on Sundays and festive days in Lithuania are still on the table, Skvernelis said.
Currently, Lithuanian shopping malls and supermarkets are open seven days a week from early morning until some 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. in the evening.
