Financial police and market inspectors teams raided a number of food wholesellers and retailers today, after shortages were reported over the past week. The shortages mainly affected meat and fresh fruit, in various supermarkets, and they came as the Government changed the way in which it is controlling prices – from a total price freeze to a new plan to limit the profit margin.

After the fear spread on the gas market yesterday evening, with long lines developing in a number of cities, and station owners limiting the amount of gas they would sell, the inspections were unleashed. Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski today accused the gas companies of “war profiteering” as they were withholding quantities in apparent expectation of shortages or a possible price increase.