A recent surveillance of major supermarkets in the Suva-Nausori corridor has shown a significant rise in the price of a 750ml bottle of ghee, climbing from an average of $24.02 to $31.24 this week.
Seema Shandil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji, expressed concern over the shocking increase of more than $7 in just a few weeks, emphasizing that this puts an undue burden on consumers. She noted that this price surge comes at a critical time, as the festive season approaches, during which ghee is in high demand for various religious ceremonies, traditional cooking, and family gatherings.
Shandil pointed out that while ghee is not under price control, it holds significant importance during this time. Thus, the abrupt and marked price increase is seen as both alarming and unacceptable.
“Although suppliers have cited rising raw material costs as the reason for this price hike, the Council strongly questions the extent of the increase. This steep rise cannot be solely justified by external factors like production costs. Businesses have a duty to ensure that their pricing practices are fair and do not take advantage of the current situation to maximize profits at the expense of consumers,” she stated.
The Council is urging traders to exercise restraint, especially during the festive season when demand for ghee is expected to rise. Shandil emphasized that such practices should not be tolerated as families are already facing increasing financial pressures.
She concluded by stating that the Council will keep a close watch on this situation and hold traders accountable for any practices that negatively impact consumers. Furthermore, she encouraged Fijians to stay alert and report any instances of unjustified price hikes to the Council.