A recent survey of major supermarkets in the Suva-Nausori corridor has revealed a notable rise in the price of a 750ml bottle of ghee, which has surged from an average of $24.02 to $31.24 this week.
Seema Shandil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council of Fiji, criticized this drastic hike of over $7 within just a few weeks, stating that it imposes an unnecessary strain on consumers. Shandil highlighted that this increase is especially troubling as the festive season approaches, during which ghee is highly sought after for religious rites, traditional cooking, and family gatherings.
While ghee is not subject to price control, Shandil emphasized its importance during this time, making the sudden rise in price both alarming and unacceptable.
She remarked that although suppliers have blamed escalating raw material costs for the increase, the Council questions the extent of this price surge. The Council believes that the significant hike cannot simply be attributed to production costs. Businesses should ensure their pricing is fair and not exploit current conditions to reap excessive profits at the cost of consumers.
The Council is urging traders to show restraint, especially as demand for ghee is set to increase during the festive period. Shandil stressed that such price increases should not be tolerated while families are already dealing with financial challenges.
She stated that the Council will closely monitor the situation and hold traders accountable for any unfair practices harming consumers. Shandil also encouraged the people of Fiji to stay alert and report any further unjustified price hikes to the Council.