Russian retail chains are monitoring price dynamics for socially important products in their stores. Some are introducing a zero trade markup, RIA Novosti writes with reference to the Secretary of State, Deputy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Viktor Yevtukhov.

According to him, retailers gain zero or even negative markup on foodstuffs by means of their own margin. On average the retail trade markup for socially important food products, according to Rosstat, is now 16.5%, he said.

The deputy head of the department notes that the final cost of products is affected by road transport, which has risen in price during the year. So, according to the information of retailers and agricultural producers, today the cost of transportation of vegetables from the South to the center of Russia is about 3-5 rubles per kilogram, Yevtukhov said.

He added that now there is a seasonal decrease in the cost of vegetables, and "to make this decrease more tangible and dynamic, we need to reduce logistics costs, which have an impact on the final cost of production".