DGBAS to Respond to Egg Price Increase and Inflation 蛋價上漲.物價走揚 主計總處如何應對

After the pandemic, global economy appear on a downward trend. However, Minister Chu Tzer-ming believes that with the special post-epidemic recovery budget, Taiwan's annual GDP may reach 2.45 percent.

With the egg prices going up continuously, coupled with inflation and rising commodity prices, legislators wonder whether the Minister of Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) Chu Tzer-ming in fact knows what harsh realities the people are going through. 

Lin De-fu, Legislator (KMT): “How much is a catty of eggs now do you know?”
Chu Tzer-ming, DGBAS Minister: “Eggs now cost NT$70-80 per catty. Domestic commodity prices have gone up because of food. The main thing is the price increase of bulk goods due to importation.”

Chu Tzer-ming emphasized that if prices are going up due to costs at the place of origin, the government should not intervene. He believes that domestic prices are mostly affected by imported inflation so there should not be stagflation. After the injection of a special post-pandemic budget, the GDP may go up to 2.45 percent. However, pan-green legislators pointed out that numbers and how the public actually feels may be at a large discrepancy.

Kuo Ko-wen, Legislator (DPP): “An increase in CPI means our actual salary is shrinking. The critical point remains to be our income.”

Wu Ping-jui, Legislator (DPP): “Last year, public employees' salaries were not adjusted. Maybe we should consider adjusting this year.”
Chu Tzer-ming, DGBAS Minister: “As commodity prices go up, actual salaries will feel reduced so an adjustment seems appropriate.”

The DGBAS expressed that whether public employees' salaries will be increased depends on commodity prices; however, the ultimate decision will be made by the Adjustment Committee of the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan. The salary increase will be implemented only after approval by the Premier.

雞蛋價格漲、民生物資價格也在走揚，立委關切主計長朱澤民，是否知道民間疾苦。

主計長朱澤民回應：「國內的民生因為食物類的價格有上漲，那最主要的是大宗物資，從進口都有一點比較提高。」

朱澤民強調，若是產地成本導致價格上揚，政府不應該介入。他認為，國內目前是輸入性通膨影響較大，應該不至於會有停滯性通膨，而且在疫後特別預算上路後，經濟成長可望再上修到2.45%。不過綠營立委直言，數字和民眾感受有落差。

民進黨立委郭國文認為：「CPI成長就代表我們實質的薪水，可能會縮水啊，不是嗎？關鍵還是在薪水所得啊。」

民進黨立委吳秉叡也問：「去年的軍公教人員是沒有調整薪水，今年要不要考慮調整？」

主計長朱澤民回應：「物價有上漲，實質所得降低的時候，應該是調。」

主計總處表態，明年軍公是否教調薪應該跟物價連動，不過還是要回歸到行政院人事總處的調整委員會來做決策，由行政院長同意後實施。