November 25, 2016 With Elizabeth A. Kaine
In the wake of price hike that is dictated by the current economic crisis, coupled with the rapid increase in the pump price of petroleum products in Sierra Leone, Concord Times’ Elizabeth A.Kaine conducted a market survey to determine the extent of price increase and how it is affecting traders and consumers as well.
The prices of food stuff have increased to the extent that sales have become very slow, which has apparently frustrated traders.
As a result of the snail pace of sales, many traders have resorted to finding dishonest means to maximise profit or increase sales.
Fatmata Sesay, a consumer, told this reporter that she was disappointed that the palm oil she bought appeared reddish as though it was good but no sooner she attempted cooking it, than it changed colour.
Market watch is concerned mainly about the prices of basic commodities and during the survey, it was revealed that between April to September this year, prices of commodities like pepper, salt, palm oil, groundnut, and chicken among other goods, were stable, but have increased rapidly as a result of the increase in the pump price of fuel.
Goods Qty Price (Le)
Pepper cup Le1, 000
Pepper bag Le 200,000
Palm oil pint Le 3,000
Palm oil gallon Le140,000
Vegetable cooking oil pint Le 4,000
Vegetable cooking oil gallon Le180, 000
Groundnut cup Le3, 000
Chicken Le 5,000
Rice –Kpushawa 50 kg Le220, 000
Broken 50kg Le280, 000