Ramadan: Normal Market Supply, Stable Prices

The markets are normally supplied with foodstuffs, and energy and hygiene products, and the prices of the main consumer goods are stable, said the interministerial committee for monitoring supply, price and quality control operations, which convened on Monday.

“The daily monitoring of the market by the departments concerned shows a normal supply of foodstuffs, and energy and hygiene products, and the available supply largely covers the needs for the month of Ramadan, and even for several weeks or months depending on the commodity,” according to a statement from the Department of General Affairs and Governance under the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform.

In addition, the prices of the main consumer goods posted a stability during the first 9 days of this sacred month compared to the previous week, several products even recorded declines in price levels compared to the same period of the previous year.

For example, the price of tomatoes fell by 20% over the year, green onions recorded -39%, dry onions -18% and carrots -13%. Increases concerned the prices of oranges and lemons, noted the same source.

Meat prices are stable in the short term, the comparison to last year shows an evolution for beef and sheep meat of -7%, and 27% for live chicken, the statement said, noting that the prices of fish have witnesses over the past days decreases or a stability according to the regions, knowing that this period was marked by the resumption of fishing fleets’ normal activity.

Following the suspension of importation duties as a result of a strong increase in demand in mid-March, legumes’ prices have started a downward trend compared to last year, in particular for chickpeas, of which large quantities have been imported.

The interministerial committee will continue to hold its regular meetings to monitor the evolution of the market’s situation, the level of supply and prices and the intervention of control commissions to deal with any type of fraud, monopolization, speculation or price manipulation.