Algeria / Fiery price spiral on local markets as month of fasting ” Ramadhan” gets closer.

Reporters of the newspaper Echorouk made an extensive tour on Saturday of several markets and groceries of the capital Algiers to inquire about prices of staple commodities at the threshold of the holy month of fasting of Ramadhan which is slated this year for early September.

During their inspection tour of the market stalls and the nearby groceries, notably in the districts of Bachdjarah, Belouizdad, Hussein Dey and Bab El Oued, our reporters were literally flabbergasted by the abrupt skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs and vegetables set by the retail traders.

All the staple commodities including semolina, edible oil, butter, sugar, salt, olives, almonds, dried plums etc…as well as fruits and vegetables have witnessed a maddening price hike in all the markets of the capital.

Asked by our reporters about this bewildering and distressing situation facing the consumers, several retail salesmen contended that the blame should be pinned mostly on the wholesale traders who dictate the prices as they still maintain a firm monopoly on the market despite the regulations in force.

As every year, when the month of fasting of Ramadhan gets nearer, the prize frenzy, stoked by these venal traders, is always on everyone’s lips.

For them, Ramadhan is unfortunately synonymous with only “easy money”.