Price watchdog to focus on strong franc in 2012

Switzerland’s price regulator will continue to keep a close watch on the effects of the strong franc for consumers, especially the cost of imports.

Stephan Meierhans already demanded last year that importers and retailers adapt the prices of goods and services they were bringing into the country.

A number of investigations were launched into suspected price gouging and contact was made with producers, importers of brand name products as well Migros and Coop, Switzerland’s two biggest retailers. A full report into pricing practices should be released by the middle of the year.

Meierhans will also keep the healthcare and social sectors under surveillance. Presenting his annual report on Friday in Bern, he said that his campaign last year to implement a systematic comparison of the price of pharmaceuticals in Switzerland and abroad had helped rein in costs for consumers.

The price watchdog will scutinise plans to increase the cost of tickets for public transport in 2012. He fears though that if parliament sets profit targets for transport companies, he will have little latitude to influence those costs.