84 commodities see price hikes in September — study

AMMAN — The prices of 84 commodities rose in September compared with their prices at the beginning of this year, according to a study by the Consumer Protection Society.

The study, which reviewed the price fluctuations of 130 different commodities, found that the prices of 84 commodities increased by an average of 16.28 per cent. Thirty-seven commodities remained stable in price during this period, and nine commodities decreased by an average of 15.16 per cent.

Among the 84 commodities that increased in price are vegetables, which increased by 66.8 per cent. Cabbage prices rose by 42.85 per cent, the prices of potatoes increased by 15.3 per cent. The prices of zucchini, pepper and cauliflower remained stable.

The price of fresh chicken rose by 15.7 per cent, while red meat prices rose by 7.14 per cent. The price of sugar rose by 16 per cent, and the price of rice increased by 13 per cent. Additionally, powder milk prices witnessed an increase ranging from 14.2 per cent to 32.9 per cent. The price of vegetable oil rose by a staggering 37.39 per cent.

As for the commodities that decreased in price, tomatoes decreased by 28.5 per cent and eggplant prices decreased by 20 per cent. Almond prices decreased by 10 per cent, and the price of imported veal decreased by 7.69 per cent.

Nesreen Hasan, a resident of Jabal Al Hashmi, told The Jordan Times that “the prices of the products keep increasing, especially vegetable oil. Therefore, I have reduced the use of vegetable oil on a daily basis, and I bought an air fryer.”

“Prices in restaurants also have increased, as the price of oil is very high and this affects everything,” Hasan said.

Ahmad, a mechanic, said: “I have six kids and I can’t provide chicken for them even once per week, because of the high prices.”

He said everything in Amman is expensive, not just food.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measurement of inflation, increased by 3.34 per cent in the first six months of 2022, to reach 105.41, compared with a CPI of 102 for the same period in 2021, according to the Department of Statistics.