Makro prices are sky rocketing

After a visit to Makro this weekend I noticed a big price jump on some of the goods. I made a visit to Metro Center after receiving a leaflet at the robot and to my amazement the majority of the same name brand goods were 10-20% cheaper. They do not have the buying power of Makro yet they are cheaper on alot of goods. Can someone from Makro please tell me why this is happening and also why are there so many workers standing around in the aisles and by the tills either chatting or doing nothing but still have to be paid, which i'm sure also plays a part in affecting the pricing of goods.