Price of essential commodities sky rocket in Burma

IMNA
February 27, 2006

The prices of essential commodities including food are increasing by the day in Burma . Some community leaders attribute the skyrocketing price to the impact of a shift in the capital.

At present 100 baskets of paddy costs 300,000 Kyat and it was only 240,000 Kyat last month.

“I never thought that the price of rice would touch this figure. Now we have to pay 400 Kyat for one Pyi (for 1.25 kilogram) of rice. It is the military government's decision to move the capital to Pyinmana that has affected prices,” a Pegu farmer explained.

Hundred baskets of paddy used to cost only 60,000 Kyat a couple of years ago. But the price has sky rocketed and doubled in recent times.

“The price of fat has increased 1,000 Kyat. Now it is 13,000 Kyat per can. It was 11,400 Kyat last month. Prices of other commodities have also jumped,” Ko Khin a shopkeeper who buys goods in Moulmein said.

The currently price of gold is around 310,000 Kyat. It had increased a little.

According to a rubber trader, dried rubber price has also increased from 720 to 800 Kyat per pound.

According to people the prices are unlikely to fall.