Ethiopia food prices spike after govt lifts price caps, making food unaffordable for many

(June 21, 2011, ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP)- Prices of staples like meat, cooking oil and bread have been on a roller coaster ride in Ethiopia.

The government in January imposed price controls to combat rising prices, giving food sellers long lines of customers but barely any profit.

Now, after price controls were dropped earlier this month, prices have again risen to levels that most Ethiopians can't afford.

Some 3.2 million Ethiopians depend on food aid. Recent government figures put inflation at nearly 35 percent in the last year.

In a rare show of rebellion in a country historically used to authoritarianism, Ethiopian consumers earlier this month started a text-message campaign to boycott meat in an attempt to force prices down. The campaign has not worked. Read more »

Source: sun-sentinel.com

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