Taking Prices by the Horns

As the feeling that life is expensive spreads across the territory, Her Highness the Duchess of Crestignac has unveiled the “Taking Prices by the Horns” plan, designed to restore lasting economic peace of mind to the people of Crestignac.

The first measure will take effect on Monday: displaying prices will be banned in all shops in Crestignac.

“We have listened to the people of Crestignac. They tell us they see prices everywhere that worry them. So we have decided they will no longer see them.”

The scheme does not require shopkeepers to change what they charge. They will remain free to set their own prices. However, no amounts may now appear in shop windows, on shelves, on menus or in the immediate vicinity of products. Customers will be told the total when they pay.

For Sacha Miseri, Minister of Finance, this distinction is essential.

“We must not confuse a price with the feeling it creates. Changing prices would have required complex, lengthy economic intervention with consequences that would have been difficult to predict. Removing them from view has an immediate effect.”

“The aim of the Taking Prices by the Horns plan is perfectly clear: to combat the feeling that life is expensive. That is the objective against which we wish to be judged.”

A trial conducted in several shops in Crestignac has reportedly already produced noticeable results.

Josiane shares her experience: “Before, when I went shopping, I looked at the prices. I would see 4.80, 7.20, sometimes 12.90. It would start to worry me. Now I don't see anything. I take what I need and feel much more relieved.”

The checkout can still be a delicate moment: “Yes, sometimes I get a surprise. But that's afterwards. While I'm shopping, I feel absolutely fine.”

Gérard, a pensioner: “I bought some cheese, two leeks and a bottle. I had no idea how much it cost. It had been a very long time since I'd shopped with such peace of mind.”

Micheline, a mother of three: “My children were always asking me why certain things were so expensive. Now they don't ask any more. At home, we talk about prices much less.”

Jean-Marc: “Before, with 50 crestins, I knew straight away what I couldn't afford. Now I don't. Psychologically, it makes an enormous difference.”

Marcel, a butcher: “Before, customers would come in and say, ‘That's expensive.’ Now they come in and say, ‘I'll have 800 grams.’ The conversation has become much more constructive again.”

Bernard, a baker: “I removed all the labels on Tuesday morning. Since then, nobody has pointed out an increase in the price of bread. Yet it has gone up. That's encouraging.”

Sylvie, a clothing retailer: “A customer asked me how much a dress cost. I explained that I could no longer contribute to her feeling that life was expensive by giving her that information before she bought it. She thought about it, then took it.”

To assess the plan's results, the government of Crestignac has announced the creation of the ISVC — Perceived Cost of Living Index.

The ISVC will not directly measure changes in prices. It will measure how the people of Crestignac perceive those changes.

The institutes previously responsible for measuring prices will continue their work. They will, however, no longer be allowed to publish the amounts recorded, since circulating them could influence the indicator they are now tasked with studying.

An initial methodological bulletin explains: “Prices will continue to be recorded to ensure the quality of the measurement. Their publication will be suspended so as not to compromise the quality of the sentiment being measured.”

The ISVC will be compiled according to CIS 99.9% standards, now adopted as the reference framework for evaluating perception policies in Crestignac.

Preliminary data show a very substantial decline in the number of people in Crestignac reporting that they have visually observed a price increase in shops taking part in the trial.

According to Sacha Miseri: “Since the labels disappeared, none of the consumers surveyed has reported seeing a price go up on a shelf. That is an objective result.”

Asked about the current cost of the average basket in Crestignac, the minister declined to provide a figure: “That information could have a direct effect on the ISVC. Making it public would be methodologically unwise.”

The first official ISVC will be published at the end of the month. It will indicate changes in the feeling that life is expensive, but will contain no prices.

For La DdC, the reform marks a new stage in protecting everyday life for the people of Crestignac.

“We promised to combat the feeling that life is expensive. We never promised to combat prices.”

“Prices have not disappeared. The anxiety of seeing them has.”