People's Purchasing Power for Yalda Nuts Has Halved

The head of the Nuts and Dried Fruits Working Group of the Iranian Chamber of Guilds stated that people's purchasing power for nuts during Yalda has decreased by up to 50%. Alireza Arzani Memaghani said on Wednesday, December 19, to ILNA news agency that despite the lack of supply shortages in the market and the prices of nuts remaining unchanged compared to last year, people's purchasing power has significantly decreased compared to last Yalda and has halved. In this context, ISNA news agency reported that the price of one kilogram of 'Yalda nuts' ranges from 600,000 to 840,000 tomans. Last year, this agency quoted the head of the Union of Dried Fruits and Nuts Sellers in Tehran, stating that the price of 'Yalda nuts' was 'a maximum of 480,000 tomans'; this indicates a 75% increase in nut prices. Sales of fruit this Yalda have also decreased by 30%. The agency also reported that the price of one kilogram of 'sweet nuts' this year ranges from 900,000 to 980,000 tomans. Meanwhile, the head of the Fruit and Vegetable Sellers Union stated that the wave of inflation has also affected fruit prices. Asadollah Kargar said on Wednesday to the Tabnak website that the main reason for the increase in fruit prices is the cold weather and rising transportation costs. However, Kargar also stated in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that the reason for the increase in fruit prices ahead of Yalda is the 'increased demand for quality fruit.' While the prices of nuts and fruits are rising, the head of the Confectioners Union also reported a 30% to 40% decrease in sweet purchases. Ali Bahrami stated on December 15 that sweets have become a 'luxury item' in Iran, and he mentioned that 'we have no choice but to buy raw materials at high prices.' Every year, as families prepare for Yalda, the prices of nuts, fruits, and sweets see a significant increase, and Iranian officials have failed to provide a practical solution to this issue over the years. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic announced that the point inflation rate for November was over 35%. Mohammad Reza Farzin released this data on the evening of Wednesday, December 19, while the publication of inflation statistics and monetary variables had been halted for two months. Farzin also told reporters that the monthly and annual inflation rates were 3% and over 37%, respectively.