Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, MLP spokesperson for social solidarity, and Silvio Parnis, spokesman about the elderly, said that although the government knew that its method of calculating the cost of living was wrong, that method still showed that retail prices for products and essential services had gone up in December.

In December there had been price rises in medicines, among other products. These price increases were particularly detrimental to families, the elderly, people with disability and those who were chronically ill. Because of their low income, there were unfortunately people who were not getting the care recommended to them, the spokespersons said, describing the situation as one that was worrying.