JEDDAH: Since the beginning of August, markets across Jeddah have witnessed a huge influx of shoppers stocking up for the holy month of Ramadan, which is just a few days away.
Shoppers, both Saudis and expatriates, are anticipating a possible rise in the price of food, similar to last year when prices increased by 20 to 30 percent.
According to shopkeepers, commodities that are in high demand include rice, oil, sugar, ghee and dry milk.
“Buying for Ramadan started earlier than usual this year, as consumers fear prices may go up when Ramadan begins,” said Essam Allathiqani, a manager of a supermarket in the Faisaliyah district of Jeddah.
“Fears of a price hike have enticed people to rush to buy commodities that have a long valid life,” he said, adding that the prices of fresh vegetables, meat, fish and frozen chicken have remained stable.
Majed Abu Zaid, manager of sales at a famous supermarket, said the steady increase in prices during the past months has made consumers skeptical about the continuation of the trend during Ramadan, which is a popular time for buying.
Abu Zaid added that the price increase in Ramadan is not a Saudi phenomenon, but something that happens across the Arab and Islamic world. “Prices usually show a slight increase during Ramadan, but the increase was exceptional last year. This has made people fear a similar increase this year and so they have started buying before the month,” he said.
Local shopper Abdul Aziz Al-Wattar said prices change rapidly in Ramadan. He cited an incident at a certain supermarket when the cashier’s computer stopped for a few minutes. “When it came to work again we discovered that the prices of several items had increased,” he said.
Al-Wattar said he has been keen to do all of his Ramadan shopping before the month, as he is anticipating an increase in the price of commodities and wants to avoid the rush, which usually happens during the first week of the fasting month.
Al-Wattar, who works for the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hoped that the efforts of concerned government departments and the Ministry of Commerce in the past few months to contain prices would succeed.
Khadija Bukhari, a teacher, had another economic reason to buy early: She does not want to lose the money she has saved for the occasion. “I have saved some money for Ramadan and if I do not buy now, I may lose that cash,” Bukhari said.
She said the expenses of her family usually triples in Ramadan.
