Continued Rise in Essential Goods Prices; People's Food Basket Shrinking

Mahr News Agency reported the ongoing increase in the prices of essential goods in recent days, stating that the trend is expected to continue. The continued rise in prices, while at least 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, means that the food baskets of more people in Iranian society are becoming smaller. Mahr reported on the market for essential goods on Thursday, September 29, stating: "Monitoring the market for essential goods indicates an increase in prices over the past month." According to Mahr, the price of 800-gram cans of tomato paste has risen from 55,000 tomans in recent weeks to 67,000 tomans in September. Based on this report, the price of eggs has also increased from 99,000 tomans per tray to 140,000 tomans, and chicken from 70,000 tomans to 95,000 tomans. The new wave of inflation in recent days has led to significant criticism on social media and has reached the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In this regard, Hossein Samasami, a member of Parliament, stated in a public session on Tuesday, September 27, that this year, compared to last year, 485 items have been removed from the coverage of the 28,500 toman exchange rate, which has led to the price increase of some goods. He emphasized that we are witnessing the inflation of many goods these days. Samasami identified the main cause of inflation in recent months as the removal of 485 items from the 28,500 toman exchange rate, which has caused prices, including those of legumes, to rise. According to him, the price of barley has increased by 48% this year. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the 14th government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in his first press conference on September 26, without providing a plan or solution to overcome the dire living conditions, responded to the question of why bread prices have risen by saying: "In all our discussions, we have said that our focus is on those who have problems, and the people's tables should not face issues." This is while he stated in the same meeting that "this economy needs intervention and treatment" and asked the media to cooperate in this regard so that "we can implement treatment methods." He added: "We should not criticize why we are giving bitter medicine to the people." Pezeshkian's avoidance of specific explanations and solutions comes at a time when in the first two months of his government's activity, bread prices have risen from 25% in rural areas to 66% in the capital, and recently, permits for a 20% increase in raw milk prices and a 25% increase in dairy prices have also been issued. The increase in gasoline prices in "the next year"; a member of Parliament says it will be between 15% to 20%. The continued rise in consumer goods prices in Iran; dairy products will become 25% more expensive. Amir Hossein Moradi and Ali Younesi on the anniversary of Mahsa: A spark could start the "uprising to overthrow Khamenei". Milk will soon become expensive again; per capita milk consumption is on the decline. The first deputy of Pezeshkian announced a deficit of "one thousand trillion tomans" in the middle of the year.