Prices of commodities still at a surge in January

Many consider the Month of January as a period when prices of basic commodities are supposed to be reduced given that a huge sum of money is spent during the festive season, when even an average family go in for a commodity more than ten times the price.

Some consumers on their part decide to minimise expenditure during the Christmas and the New Year feasts hoping to storm the markets in the heart of January where they anticipate a drastic decrease in prices of commodity.

Unfortunately for them, the prices are still at an increase but for dresses and shoes whose demand has dropped.

At the Mfoundi market in Yaounde, a consumer like Esong Nora expressed her frustration over the continuous hikes in price. The market which carries the reputation of being one of the cheapest in Yaounde, Nora says upon observation is the most expensive. What keep customers coming is the fresh products it offers.

Marie Wirnkar is another consumer who has express her disgruntlement over price hikes. “I came to the market with the impression that the price for chicken must have dropped, but unfortunately for me, the size of chicken that I used to buy for 2500 before Christmas and New Year, is still sold at either 4000 or 5000francs CFA since the festive season.”

More still, Laritza Siwe is also one of those consumers who had anticipated a decrease in the prices of goods in the month of January. She decided to become a miser for a couple of weeks, just to be frustrated at the end. “I spent just 20% of my December salary keeping the rest for mid-January because I knew it’s a period when prices are reduced but unfortunately for me not much has changed in the markets”.

Vendors on their part have justified the high prices especially for perishable goods like vegetables and other fresh products to the dry season. Traders too complain of low sales throughout the month of January but are hopeful once salaries are available, the situation could change for better.