During Ramadan, people like to stock up on a variety of foodstuffs and other necessary items in order to enjoy the holy month
through worship and festive dishes. However, an increasing number of Yemenis are finding this impossible. Musaed Khaled, an unemployed sixty year old man living in the country, cannot afford to buy his family a 50-kg bag of flour because, he says, of a sudden increase in its price by YR 300 (about US $1.6) Whilst the
government has issued a statement saying that there have been no price increases on the advent of Ramadan—a claim supported by official reports—an increasing amount of people are complaining of a sudden price hike on fruit,
vegetables and other commodities. The Consumer Protection Society (CPS) issued a statement on the first of Ramadan confirming that prices had increased on the food commodities, dates, juices and seasonal sweets. The society said that in some cases goods were now being sold at up to four times their original price. Yemeni consumers are particularly vulnerable to price instability due to the lack of official price controls by authorities. This allows for merchants to exploit times of high demand, such as Ramadan. The cost of basic foodstuffs is particularly volatile. Whilst 2 weeks ago one could purchase a kilogram of onions for YR 120, merchants now charge YR 200 for the same quantity. A 500 gram chicken, usually YR 400, is now priced between YR 500-600. Depending on the neighborhood, an egg can double in price from YR 10 to YR 20. It is estimated that, on average, the price of fruit and vegetables increases by 40 percent during Ramadan. Whilst the government blames the "selfishness" of merchants for price instability, the traders themselves attribute the phenomenon to the absence of government control, as well as the irregular exportation of huge quantities of local produce to neighboring countries. Whilst the government recently banned the export of vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs if demand in the local market is high, the inability of Yemen's producers to meet demand during times of heightened consumption is a serious factor in the recent price increases. Saleh Hadi, a farmer, said that he increases his production of vegetables to meet the demands of the market. "However, we can't always fulfill the market's needs," he said. Unfortunately, it's not only food that is subject to the whim of national trade. Amin Ahmed Anas, a rural driver, spent a week searching for cooking gas in Ibb a week prior to Ramadan only to return empty-handed. Although a gas cylinder is officially priced at YR 450, in rural areas prices can go as high as YR 600. Even in Sana'a, one can find gas cylinders being sold for a whopping YR 1000 due to over-demand. The CPS has called on people to reduce consumption in order for prices to stabilize, but given that Ramadan is a time for feasting and celebration, for many people this is simply not possible.