Monstat: Minimal and trade union consumer baskets are methodologically incomparable

The Statistical Office of Montenegro (Monstat) has stated that data regarding the minimal consumer basket and the trade union consumer basket are methodologically incomparable. The agency urged users to respect these differences and clearly cite the source and full name of each indicator when presenting or interpreting the data.

Monstat clarified that the research on the minimal consumer basket has not been conducted since 2024, with the last published data dating back to December 2023. This cessation was defined by the Official Statistics Program for 2024–2028.

Furthermore, Monstat noted that the trade union consumer basket, published by the Center for Education, Information and Trade Union Research of the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG), is based on a different methodology and is not a continuation of Monstat's official statistics. Because of differences in concept, content, and calculation methods, the two cannot be directly compared or linked into a single time series to determine changes in the cost of living or standard of living.