The increase in fuel prices is being accompanied by a rise in the cost of food products. According to observations in the fruit and vegetable market in the city of Vlor\u00eb, almost all products\u2014including fruits, vegetables, and dairy\u2014are being sold at higher prices compared to the period before the conflict began.<\/p>\n
If just a few days ago 1 kg of tomatoes was sold for 200 lek\u00eb, today it is priced between 350 and 400 lek\u00eb. Meanwhile, price increases have also been recorded for vegetables such as peppers and eggplants, as well as dairy products, where one kilogram of cheese is now sold for 100\u2013200 lek\u00eb more. This situation directly affects citizens\u2019 budgets, especially pensioners, who say the government should have taken earlier measures to ease the impact of these increases.<\/p>\n
Citizens say they cannot afford these prices, which they describe as abusive. According to them, daily living has become unaffordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t make ends meet\u2014what should we buy first, medicine or a salad? I bought two bananas and I have no money left. Prices are very high, everything is increasing here. Fuel has had an impact, but they also raise prices themselves\u2014we can\u2019t cope,\u201d said an elderly woman.<\/p>\n
Another woman stated that prices have risen more than they should have:<\/p>\n
\u201cPrices are high, they\u2019ve increased more than necessary. Fuel has had an impact, but it\u2019s not affordable\u2014salaries don\u2019t compensate for these prices. We hope they will go down, but we don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another citizen said the price increases are abusive, adding:<\/p>\n
\u201cPrices are extremely high, it\u2019s very difficult. There\u2019s a lot of increase and it\u2019s done abusively. The state should control it\u2014these things happen under the pretext of fuel. What does a tomato have to do with fuel?\u201d<\/p>\n
To avoid \u201cscaring\u201d customers, some traders do not display prices on their stalls. However, they themselves admit the rise in prices, especially for imported products. According to them, this situation is driving customers away from the market and is pushing traders toward bankruptcy, forcing them to abandon their long-standing businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just walk around\u2014I haven\u2019t sold anything. Prices have gone up because of the war, because of Edi Rama\u2014he\u2019s the one raising them. Apples, pumpkins, carrots are 1,000 lek\u00eb more wholesale. Young people have left, pensioners get 100,000 lek\u00eb\u2014what can I buy with that? It will get worse,\u201d said one trader.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, not only basic food items but every sector has been affected by rising prices following the increase in fuel costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The increase in fuel prices is being accompanied by a rise in the cost of food products. According to observations in the fruit and vegetable market in the city of Vlor\u00eb, almost all products\u2014including fruits, vegetables, and dairy\u2014are being sold at higher prices compared to the period before the conflict began. If just a few […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":83571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,1803],"tags":[243,151],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n