The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) is carrying out pre-budget surveys and marketing monitoring in anticipation of the upcoming 2025-2026 national budget announcement.
The survey aims to collect baseline prices across key markets and sectors throughout the country.
FCCC chief executive officer Senikavika Jiuta said by conducting this survey, they would be well-positioned to assess and respond to any pricing trends or fluctuations that may arise as a result of the budget measures.
“Accurate data enables us to swiftly address and deter unjustified price hikes or misleading market practices following the budget announcement,” Ms Jiuta said.
“We are committed to maintaining transparency and fairness for both consumers and traders.”
Ms Jiuta said they had conducted 122 focused surveys as of last week.
She said these efforts were employed to arm the enforcement team with critical pre-budget data, which would be instrumental in their investigation actions in the event of unjustified price hikes or deceptive practices.
Ms Jiuta said they were also conducting routine market assessment of traders and businesses across various sectors.
She said this data was critical for the FCCC to effectively assess the potential impacts of the national budget and to inform regulatory responses.
She advised traders and businesses to maintain ethical trading practices during this pre-budget period.
“Our message is simple: do not take advantage of consumers. We are watching, and we will act. This is not a time to exploit uncertainty for profit – it’s a time for responsible business practices,” Ms Jiuta said.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 25, 2025
