A recent surveillance of major supermarkets in the Suva-Nausori corridor has uncovered a significant increase in the price of a 750ml bottle of ghee, which has jumped from an average of $24.02 to $31.24 this week.
In a statement, Consumer Council of Fiji Chief Executive Seema Shandil expressed concern over this sudden price surge of over $7 in just a few weeks, stating that it has imposed an unnecessary burden on consumers.
Shandil highlighted that this price spike occurs at a critical time as the festive season approaches, during which ghee is commonly used for religious ceremonies, traditional cooking, and family gatherings.
Although ghee is not subject to price controls, Shandil emphasized its importance during this period, describing the recent price increase as both alarming and unacceptable.
“While suppliers have attributed the rise to increased raw material costs, the Council questions the scale of the hike. Such a steep increase cannot solely be justified by external factors like production costs. Businesses have a duty to ensure that their pricing practices are reasonable and do not take advantage of the current situation to make excessive profits at the expense of consumers,” Shandil remarked.
The Council is urging traders to exercise restraint, especially with the anticipated rise in demand for ghee during the festive season.
Shandil pointed out that this situation should not be tolerated, particularly as families are already facing rising financial pressures. She assured that the Council will continue to monitor the market closely and hold traders accountable for practices that negatively impact consumers. She also encouraged Fijians to stay alert and report any further instances of unwarranted price hikes to the Council.