Bread Prices on the Rise; Scenario for Price Increase Under Review

The issues surrounding bread continue, with long queues and reduced supply in various cities, while officials have announced that a scenario for increasing bread prices is under review. State media also aired complaints from bakers about the low price of bread and high costs. Following reports of the initiation of bread rationing in the country, Mohammad Jalal, spokesperson for the smart subsidy plan for flour and bread, stated in a television program that market regulation for bread has been delegated to the provinces. According to Jalal, one way to compensate for bakers' losses is through a subsidy that has increased by 40%. The remarks from this official indicate that decisions regarding bread will be made regionally, with geographic and social conditions playing a role, as he emphasized that all existing pricing and rate adjustment powers have been transferred to the provinces. Mohammad Ali Mehri, Deputy for Economic Affairs of Tehran Province, was also present in the television program, implicitly confirming the imminent increase in bread prices and stating that three scenarios, including a price increase scenario, are being considered for bakeries, which will be approved next week with the presence of union representatives. These developments regarding bread come at a time when, on May 2, the Ministry of Economy announced that the government has no plans to increase the price of bread and flour this year. On May 17, Mohammad Jalal, advisor to the Minister of Economy, reiterated that 'the government's emphasis is not on increasing the price of bread, although there may be adjustments for certain types of bread due to increased production costs.' The people of Sistan and Baluchestan face a long list of problems: from lack of water and electricity to bread shortages. The reduction in flour quotas for bakers and the bread crisis in Iran; report by Roozbeh Boulaheri. Bread shortages in cities and a 40% increase in baker subsidies. Sistan and Baluchestan is in crisis; water and electricity outages and long queues for chicken alongside drought. When coupons are not a solution; a ten million toman gap between wages and living costs. The Ministry of Economy: bread will not become expensive this year; bakeries: it is not profitable at the current price. The Raisi government's defense of the 15,000 toman price for wheat; Iraqi brokers buy at double the price.