Governments implement measures to combat rising living costs

The government of Senegal has announced several measures to combat the rising cost of living. These include a temporary freeze on rents to curb real estate speculation and the provisional authorization to import certain foodstuffs, such as carrots and cabbage, to mitigate seasonal supply shortages. Additionally, a permanent observatory will be established to monitor price trends and protect consumers. Officials noted that meat supply challenges are partly due to insecurity in Mali, a primary supplier.

In Belgium, Minister David Clarinval of the MR party has proposed a ‘reverse ratchet’ mechanism to reduce fuel excise taxes. This system would trigger a temporary reduction in duties once fuel prices exceed a specific threshold. Clarinval argued that the state should return excess tax revenues—estimated at over 100 million euros this year—to the public to alleviate financial burdens amid rising oil prices and stagnant economic growth projections.