Shoppers notice increase in food prices during Ramadan

Dubai: Retailers had been warned against increasing the prices of essential goods in Ramadan without written consent from the authorities, shoppers say they have already noticed an increase in prices compared with previous weeks. A quick check by Gulf News revealed prices have risen anywhere from 10 per cent to 40 per cent on a variety of food items across key categories from fruits to vegetables. Since the beginning of Ramadan, residents claim that food prices have increased. Shoppers said that a kilogram of locally-produced tomatoes that normally costs Dh3 had risen to Dh5, a 2kg pack of sugar had increased from Dh7 to Dh15, and a kilogram of bananas that usually cost Dh4 had gone up to Dh7.5. “Shoppers are concerned about the rising prices of commodities, particularly food items during the fasting month of Ramadan. I’ve noticed that everything has gone up and many essential commodities have smaller margins while others have big differences,” Noora Khalid, a housewife said. “Every year, retailers tend to hike the prices of basic merchandise during Ramadan, with food prices in particular recording a weekly increase. Many essential commodities have smaller margins while others have big differences and I’m spending at least 50 per cent more on every item I purchase,” Hana Mohammad said. “Shop owners take advantage of people’s needs for Ramadan on products such as rice, pastries, meat, and chicken,” Nasera Al Baroudi said. She added that the rush of customers had made it easy for grocery shops to slightly play with the prices caused by a lack of time and consumer pressure. Suhair Assi, 47, a schoolteacher who has nine children, said: “Every year people wait for Ramadan for blessings. But it just gets more expensive every year.” —  Gulf News