This reporter went round in the market to get first-hand information on the reported increase in prices, and how it is affecting the consumer.
According to our findings, the price of the following items increased as the Ramandan approached: a bag of onions increased to D580 from D300; a 20 litre container of oil now costs D1,000 up from D950 before the Ramandan; a bag of rice is selling for D1150 up from D1,050; bag of sugar is D1,380; a bag of Irish potatoes D900; a kilo of meat and bone is now D160 compared to D150 before Ramandan; a kilo of steak is now D200 up from D180.
Speaking to this reporter, Mariama Komma, a consumer, complained that one cannot buy much with D200 as fish money in the public market, as prices are increasing on a daily basis.
Assan Faal, a Mauritanian businessman, attributed the increase to the depreciation of the dalasi against currencies such as the dollar and CFA, used for importing most commodities.
He added that during the Ramadan the demand for these items is also high.
He said the expenditure of the businesspeople, ranging from paying business operator’s licence to area councils, payment of income taxes, daily buying of Cashpower for electricity supply, payment of rent for their shops, among others, also affected the prices of goods.
Saidou Jallow, a butcher at Latrikunda, spoke of the high cost of animals, which are purchased by the dealers from the neighbouring countries.
Another butcher at Serekunda, Mohammed Degico, also blamed the high cost of meat on the depreciation of the dalasi.