Economy Minister Nir Barak announced that over 800,000 Israelis have purchased from the government's cheap basket program. He also reported that Carrefour's market share in the program jumped from 2.2% to 7.2%, and that competing chains lowered prices by about 5% due to the initiative. 'In spite of the monopolies, we brought prices down,' Barak said.
The cheap basket program, launched by Economy Minister Nir Barak, appears to be gaining traction. According to the minister, over 800,000 Israelis have already taken advantage of the subsidized basket, and Carrefour – a relatively new entrant to the Israeli market – has seen its share in the program triple. The price cuts by rival retailers suggest that the initiative is creating meaningful competition. Barak framed the results as a victory over entrenched monopolistic power. No independent verification of the figures has been released, but the data comes from the minister's own briefing.
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