[Malaysia] Consumers say grocery costs now exceed salaries

The hike in the prices of goods in Malaysia has hit the B40 income group the hardest as they try to make ends meet on an income that cannot keep pace with the rise in the cost of living, Free Malaysia Today reports.

Housewife and kuih seller Nora Abd Satar spoke with Free Malaysia Today about the challenges she is currently facing, saying she was forced to increase her prices to cover costs, especially before Hari Raya, causing some of her customers to question the price hike.

“Of course, the price has to go up. The price of margarine has already increased from RM4 to RM8, and the price of flour has gone up, too,” she said.

The 36-year-old mother of five said she has to help her husband supplement his income because the cost of groceries has now exceeded his monthly pay.

Another housewife - who only wanted to be referred to as Sharifah - told the publication she could not rely solely on her husband, who works as a security guard, to provide for the family as his income could not cover the cost of groceries.

“There has been a significant increase in basic food items. A kilo of shrimp used to be RM28, now it’s RM35. A kilo of chicken used to be RM8 to RM9, now some even sell it at RM12 per kg.

“An estimated RM100 is only sufficient for three days of meals for a large family like ours.

“We spend around RM1,000 a month just on groceries. That doesn’t include our bills. It’s tough when our salary doesn’t reach RM2,000,” the 39-year-old said, adding that she has to take care of her three children and her parents.

Retired civil servant Suzaifa (55) said the price of household items such as laundry detergent had also increased.

However, she said the price hike varied from store to store and as a result, as a consumer, she had to compare prices before making a purchase.

“Consumers like us have to be wise at making comparisons,” she said.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

(Quotes via original reporting)

The hike in the prices of goods in Malaysia has hit the B40 income group the hardest as they try to make ends meet on an income that cannot keep pace with the rise in the cost of living, Free Malaysia Today reports.

Housewife and kuih seller Nora Abd Satar spoke with Free Malaysia Today about the challenges she is currently facing, saying she was forced to increase her prices to cover costs, especially before Hari Raya, causing some of her customers to question the price hike.

“Of course, the price has to go up. The price of margarine has already increased from RM4 to RM8, and the price of flour has gone up, too,” she said.

The 36-year-old mother of five said she has to help her husband supplement his income because the cost of groceries has now exceeded his monthly pay.

Another housewife - who only wanted to be referred to as Sharifah - told the publication she could not rely solely on her husband, who works as a security guard, to provide for the family as his income could not cover the cost of groceries.

“There has been a significant increase in basic food items. A kilo of shrimp used to be RM28, now it’s RM35. A kilo of chicken used to be RM8 to RM9, now some even sell it at RM12 per kg.

“An estimated RM100 is only sufficient for three days of meals for a large family like ours.

“We spend around RM1,000 a month just on groceries. That doesn’t include our bills. It’s tough when our salary doesn’t reach RM2,000,” the 39-year-old said, adding that she has to take care of her three children and her parents.

Retired civil servant Suzaifa (55) said the price of household items such as laundry detergent had also increased.

However, she said the price hike varied from store to store and as a result, as a consumer, she had to compare prices before making a purchase.

“Consumers like us have to be wise at making comparisons,” she said.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

(Quotes via original reporting)