AMMAN — The prices of foodstuffs and commodities have increased at varying rates for several reasons, said head of the
General Association for Foodstuffs Merchants (GAFM), Khalil Haj Tawfiq, adding that the foremost reason is economic stagnation and competition between merchants.
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He said merchants’ need for liquidity is also behind the price hike, adding that the price rise will continue at least until the middle of next year.
“As a syndicate, our main goal is to secure (food) stocks in the Kingdom. As for the price increase, we have no choice in the matter as it is a situation that applies to the whole world due to shipping costs rising fivefold,” said Haj Tawfiq.
He called for the creation of a security council to deal with food security issues, one that meets periodically, and one that can give this matter special priority.
Haj Tawfiq said that the price increase has become noticeable since early October, and explained that the main reason for this is that factories depend entirely on imported raw materials.
“The increase included everything, and it was an increase of 15 to 20 percent,” said Muhammad Al-Talib, a wholesaler, “and the consumer blamed us as wholesalers, thinking that we are the ones raising prices, and we noticed that they were not happy.”
There is a decline in merchants’ revenue, Muhammad Al-Rafati, a merchant, noticed. Customers whose average shopping bill used to reach JD100 has now declined to just JD50. He said that many customers have felt the price increase for products like coffee and nuts, the quality of which have also declined.
Rafati explained that the current consumer purchasing activity is linked to fears that the rise will continue in the coming days — a worry shared by traders.
“One of my customers, who is the owner of a small food supply store, used to have a bill of JD700 to JD800. Now it does not exceed JD300,” Rafati said.
Rami Daradkeh, a consumer, said that in recent months he noticed an increase in the price of basic and indispensable goods, as well as changes in their size and quantity.
Daradkeh added that the government should work to improve salaries and reduce the burdens borne by people.
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