ImprimirSANTO DOMINGO. Consumer products of mass consumption such as sugar, "American" beans,, poultry, garlic and onions have increased in price over the past few days.
During a survey carried out among retailers in the New Market on Duarte Ave. and the Los Mina Market, it was seen that a pound of brown sugar went from RD$17 to RD$18. The pound of American beans, an item in great demand among housewives, now costs between RD$36 and RD$38, when just a few days ago the price was between RD$34 and RD$36.
Eggs, at wholesalers, were RD$3.30 each, but in the markets they are at RD$4 and RD$5 each.
Poultry meat, which is the most consumed meat by the population of the capital, now costs between RD$50 and RD$55 at the retail stands. According to Pablo Rodriguez who retails chicken in the San Antonio de Los Mina barrio, in two weeks a pound of chicken has gone from RD$45 to RD$55.
The garlic, which was sold at RD$50 a pound, now costs RD$70. And onions, that were at RD$10 a pound are now at RD$25. Another product that became more expensive is herring. The pound which was offered at RD$55 a couple of weeks ago, is now five pesos more expensive. The cod has also gone up from RD$90 to RD$110.
The Mercado on Duarte Ave. is the supply center for the majority of the smaller corner markets in the capital and the province of Santo Domingo, so that if the prices there go up, the products reach the consumers at higher prices.
After the elections
The merchants point out that the majority of the increases have come after the 20 May elections, but they do not explain the causes.
They complain of the fact that there is little money on the streets and sales are down. Some wholesalers have opted for eating the price increases in order to make a sale.
Manolo Troncoso, the president of the National Federation of Retail Merchants of Foodstuffs (Fenacodep), said that sugar has not gone up and that in the case of the beans the price increase is because they are no longer importing them and the merchants that have them have increased their prices. "The other products have no reason to increase in price," Troncoso said.
He called on the consumers to defend their pesos and buy where food is cheapest. Last week, seven federations of merchants met with Pro Consumidor and said that there is no reason for the increases.
Also tubers and veggies
The price of a pound of yucca also went up. It went from RD$ 10 to RD$12. The squash went up from RD$14 to RD$18 a pound. Bananas, which were RD$2 each before the elections, woke up at RD$3 on 21 May. Salad vegetables, such as cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes, have gone up lately. Manolo Troncoso, from Fenacodep, explained that the increase of farm products is due to nervousness over the election weekend.
During a survey carried out among retailers in the New Market on Duarte Ave. and the Los Mina Market, it was seen that a pound of brown sugar went from RD$17 to RD$18. The pound of American beans, an item in great demand among housewives, now costs between RD$36 and RD$38, when just a few days ago the price was between RD$34 and RD$36.
Eggs, at wholesalers, were RD$3.30 each, but in the markets they are at RD$4 and RD$5 each.
Poultry meat, which is the most consumed meat by the population of the capital, now costs between RD$50 and RD$55 at the retail stands. According to Pablo Rodriguez who retails chicken in the San Antonio de Los Mina barrio, in two weeks a pound of chicken has gone from RD$45 to RD$55.
The garlic, which was sold at RD$50 a pound, now costs RD$70. And onions, that were at RD$10 a pound are now at RD$25. Another product that became more expensive is herring. The pound which was offered at RD$55 a couple of weeks ago, is now five pesos more expensive. The cod has also gone up from RD$90 to RD$110.
The Mercado on Duarte Ave. is the supply center for the majority of the smaller corner markets in the capital and the province of Santo Domingo, so that if the prices there go up, the products reach the consumers at higher prices.
After the elections
The merchants point out that the majority of the increases have come after the 20 May elections, but they do not explain the causes.
They complain of the fact that there is little money on the streets and sales are down. Some wholesalers have opted for eating the price increases in order to make a sale.
Manolo Troncoso, the president of the National Federation of Retail Merchants of Foodstuffs (Fenacodep), said that sugar has not gone up and that in the case of the beans the price increase is because they are no longer importing them and the merchants that have them have increased their prices. "The other products have no reason to increase in price," Troncoso said.
He called on the consumers to defend their pesos and buy where food is cheapest. Last week, seven federations of merchants met with Pro Consumidor and said that there is no reason for the increases.
Also tubers and veggies
The price of a pound of yucca also went up. It went from RD$ 10 to RD$12. The squash went up from RD$14 to RD$18 a pound. Bananas, which were RD$2 each before the elections, woke up at RD$3 on 21 May. Salad vegetables, such as cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes, have gone up lately. Manolo Troncoso, from Fenacodep, explained that the increase of farm products is due to nervousness over the election weekend.
