Struggle to exist

While the traders attribute the recent price hike to global inflationary pressures, a recent report says otherwise.

Nepali consumers are distressed as even essential items, including salt, rice, lentils, edible oil, sugar and beaten rice have recently been costing them an arm and a leg. Following India’s recent ban on export of non-basmati rice, its average price increased by Rs200-Rs300 per bag . What’s more, the 40 percent increase in customs duty on sugar has rocketed the white stuff’s price to Rs105 a kg. Even edible oil has become pricey by Rs40-Rs50 per litre, and lentils are now expensive by Rs30 a kg. As people are having to pay more for food, they are having to cut down on other essentials like health and education expenses.