Food prices in wet markets to rise over Lunar New Year period

Food prices in wet markets to rise over Lunar New Year period
By Evelyn Lam and Monica Kotwani | Posted: 06 January 2011 2059 hrs

SINGAPORE : Some stall holders in wet markets say prices of fish, meat and vegetables in Singapore's wet markets are expected to rise over the Lunar New Year period.

They attribute the increase to freight costs and erratic weather.

With less than a month to go before the Lunar New Year, the price of fresh fish has already increased.

Some suppliers say the price of vegetable imports has gone up by 30 per cent, and pork by 20 per cent due to freight costs.

The cost price of beef has also gone up, but suppliers say they are not increasing their prices to stay competitive.

Stall holders at the Chinatown wet market say the erratic weather in many countries in the last few months has led to to a decrease in food supply.

As such, they say they have no choice but to increase prices.

- CNA/ch

- wong chee tat :)