NAMAS: Consumers in Asir Region are complaining that there has been a sudden increase in the prices of essential consumer products such as frozen chickens, eggs and cooking oil. Most consumers have attributed this to the greed of wholesale merchants and owners of foodstuff companies; and the laxity of the Ministry of Commerce's field inspectors. They claimed that the prices of dairy products such as cheese and eggs have risen 20 percent, pointing out that the retailers have blamed wholesale companies for increasing the prices. Ibrahim, a worker at one of the shops, said the prices have suddenly jumped to unprecedented levels. The price of a carton of frozen chicken has increased by 60 percent and cooking oil by 15 percent, in addition to many other items, he said.
