Varanasi residents buckle under soaring prices of essentials commodities

Varanasi, Tue, 15 Dec 2009 ANI                               By Girish Kumar Dubey

Varanasi, Dec 15 (ANI): Rising prices of essential commodities are weighing down the residents in Varanasi. The skyrocketing prices of commodities are making it difficult for people to make ends meet."These days, prices have risen so much that it has become difficult for common people to survive; leave aside affording clothing and a house, it has become difficult to even eat.," said Ajay Singh Bhargav, a customer.

The soaring prices have taken a beating on the shopkeepers as well, as they have been experiencing a dip in their business."Due to this price hike, we are also facing a tough time along with the customers. A few days ago, the customer used to get a bag full of vegetables for 100 rupees, but nowadays, they are hardly able to purchase two to three vegetables for that amount.

The customers seem reluctant to purchase vegetables," said Satya Prakash, a vegetable seller.India's annual wholesale price inflation was 1.34 percent in October, but the benign numbers just reflect the high base effect of prices a year ago, and hide the real rise in the prices of food articles. The WPI has already risen to over six percent from the beginning of the 2009-10 financial year that started in April.Economists have said the inflation could rise to as much as eight percent by the end of the financial year-above the central bank's perceived comfort zone of around five percent. (ANI)