The hope that many Ethiopians had that the high cost of living would improve
and prices would decrease, has been dashed by the ever increasing cost of
living and inflation in Ethiopia, information collected by ESAT from various
regions of Ethiopia revealed.
According to reports sent by ESAT's reporters from five major regions of
Ethiopia, the high cost of living is "blazing" citizens who are on the
middle and lower income levels. In one of the most affected regions,
Eastern Ethiopia and cities such as Dire Dawa, Harar and its environs, a
quintal of Ethiopia's staple food, Teff is being sold up to 2000 Birr
($107). Some residents in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia that our reporter
spoke to also said that they were losing hope in life due to the high cost
of living.
Governmental employees and other self employed people in Southern Ethiopia
also said that they were unable to find sugar and edible oil in the market
and that the high cost of living has put them in a "critical" situation.
Most farmers in fertilizer debt also stated that they are finding themselves
in trouble. Civil servants in the Amhara Region on their part said that
they were unable to manage their families with their monthly salaries.
Compared with the inflation of same period last year, the inflation of the
last 12 months, the inflation this year has showed an increase of 18
percent, a March 2013 report by the Central Statistics Agency showed. The
food item inflation on March 2013 showed a 20 percent increase.
Observers state that the government has failed to contain the spiraling
inflation. The government argues that the reason for the inflation was the
betterment of the living conditions of Ethiopians and the resulting increase
in consumption.
ESAT would soon be producing a program on this issue by interviewing
economists.
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Received on Wed Apr 17 2013 - 17:28:19 EDT
