Authorities concerned over lunar New Year food prices
Authorities concerned over lunar New Year food prices
As demand rises for pork, chicken and duck during lunar New Year celebrations starting in late January, Vientiane industry and commerce authorities believe prices for these goods will increase.
The Vientiane Industry and Commerce Department has directed district offices to scrutinise the issue.
“The department announced recently that vendors should not take undue advantage of important events to excessively raise the price of products when prices are already quite high,” department official Mr Noumun Phothisane told Vientiane Times yesterday.
“Vendors should not sell their pork higher than 35,000-37,000 kip a kg, which is the price set by the department,” he said.
“With the pricing of chicken and duck, vendors can sell these goods as they like because the department doesn't control poultry yet due to there still being a sufficient supply for the market,” said Mr Noumun.
“These products don't have as high an impact on food consumption for people and are not such an economic issue for society.”
Normally, vendors sell chicken for 35,000 to 40,000 kip per kg and 25,000 to 30,000 kip per kg for duck.
However, the cost of tilapia fish will be stable at 18,000-19,000 kip per kg while beef remains high at 65,000-70,000 kip per kg.
Mr Noumun commended local industry and commerce authorities for getting tough and fining vendors who violated government regulations.
Many vendors in several markets in Vientiane are still taking advantage of consumers to make extra profit, so he is asking all vendors and traders in the markets not to sell their products above normal prices during the celebrations.
Consumers should shop around in many places to get a comparison before buying, the industry and commerce authorities advised.
Prices for many kinds of food have risen higher through buyer demand and they rarely come back down.
Food products in Vientiane are still being brought in from other provinces and some are imported from neighbouring countries to supply market demand.
vientiane times
