The Economy and Trade Ministry (ETM) qualifies as unjustified the recent rise of the prices of sugar, sunflower oil, rice and other foodstuffs, Info Prim Neo reports. “There is no and has been no reason to raise the prices of these products,” said on Tuesday the head of the Commercial Policy Division of the ETM, Octavian Calmac. The official argued the prices of local producers remain stable, while on the markets from neighboring Romania and Ukraine, the sugar price is even dropping. According to Octavian Calmac, the prices have been raised artificially and are speculative actions of retailers. He said the responsible bodies are probing the situation. On Monday, June 2, the retail prices of sugar, rice, oil and other foodstuffs soared by almost 50%. 1 kg of sugar cost 14-15 on Chisinau's Main Market, compared to 10-11 lei last Saturday and Sunday. The price of a kilo of rice skyrocketed from 19 lei to 30 lei. The same happened to the sunflower oil which now costs 29-31 lei. Last week the Moldovan sugar producers declined rumors of possible sugar price hikes because of a shortage on the market, Info Prim Neo reports.