As Ramadan approaches, many of us have begun stocking our larders and refrigerators with food. At this time of compassion and sharing, many people will be hosting family, friends, colleagues and even strangers for iftar, so their grocery bills will be higher than usual. Unfortunately, some retailers may be tempted to exploit this fact by increasing their prices with the view to making a windfall profit.
The good news is that the Ministry of Economy has, once again, acted to prevent this by maintaining the price of 3,500 staple foods – 500 more items than were price-controlled last year. A further 4,700 essential commodities will be offered at discounts. Ministry officials have also met producers and importers to ensure plentiful supplies.
We hope that stores don’t try to compensate by putting up prices on non-listed items. May the spirit of Ramadan, of giving, helping others and reflecting on our shared values, guide them.
