A recent surveillance of major supermarkets in the Suva-Nausori corridor has uncovered a significant jump in the price of a 750ml bottle of ghee, soaring from an average of $24.02 to $31.24 this week.
Consumer Council of Fiji’s Chief Executive, Seema Shandil, expressed concern over this alarming increase of over $7 within just a few weeks, emphasizing that it adds unnecessary pressure on consumers.
With the festive season approaching, when ghee is in high demand for religious rituals, traditional cooking, and family gatherings, this spike is particularly troubling. Shandil noted that although ghee is not subject to price controls, it remains an essential item, making the sudden escalation in price both concerning and unacceptable.
While suppliers have attributed the surge to rising raw material costs, the Council questions the justification behind such a large increase, asserting that it cannot merely be ascribed to production costs alone. Businesses are urged to ensure their pricing is fair and not to take advantage of the situation for excessive profit at consumers’ expense.
The Council is calling on traders to exercise restraint, particularly with increased demand for ghee during the festive season. Shandil stated that this scenario should not be tolerated, especially as families navigate growing financial challenges.
She also noted that the Council will closely monitor this situation and hold traders accountable for any practices that adversely affect consumers, urging the public to remain diligent and report any further instances of unjustified price hikes to the Council.