The market is regaining its balance after a week of price hikes and a commodity purchase spree, Sherine Nasr reports In times to panic, people resort to stockpiling. Indeed that was how Egyptian consumers reacted last week. News of the revolt followed by the odd absence of security forces for the better part of last week urged consumers to stockpile every item they could lay their hands on, including food, bread, gasoline and medicines. For the first time ever since it opened for business in Egypt 20 years ago, Metro Market was emptied of commodities, not by thieves but worried consumers. On the weekend that followed the revolt, the top-end supermarket was literally empty of any edible item. Bread, canned food, fresh vegetables, processed meat and cigarettes simply vanished. The only items spared were cosmetics and beauty products. The scene lasted only one day: Metro has since stocked up on every commodity. Other retail stores and groceries in various neighbourhoods shared a similar fate. Events have provoked an accelerated wave of purchasing basic commodities including sugar, rice, cooking oils, pasta, beans and milk. Moreover, shopping for commodities became an increasingly difficult task over recent days. Shoppers had to wait to have their needs attended, while many then discovered that many of the items they needed were already sold out. This week, however, things are getting back to normal. Grocery stores are no longer subject to queues, while basic commodities are once again plentiful. Still, trouble does not end there. "There is enough of every commodity but the curfew has put restraints on the movement of the market," said Ahmed Yehia, head of the Food Industries Division at the Federation of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce. Yehia added that the purchasing spree that prevailed last week, coupled with the short time-frame for bringing commodities from factories outside Cairo and distributing them among retailers, has created a negative feeling that a shortage in basic commodities is imminent. In addition, the curfew has been detrimental to food processing factories that have been unable to operate to their full capacity during a limited time span. Mahmoud El-Amrousi, a retail shop owner underlined that during the first days of the curfew, demand surpassed commodities supplies in stores. "More people were keen on stocking their basic needs and we had little time to operate during the day," said El-Amrousi. He added that although his shop was kept open during the day, "it was still not safe to operate freely after all the looting reported last week. This week, however, a sense of security prevails and the situation is becoming safer and more stable." Although bread queues have not disappeared altogether, the scene has improved dramatically compared to last week. Just a few days ago, crowds blocked sideroads in front of bakeries for hours, pushing traffic to change direction. Building keeper Abu Isaac described the acquisition of the daily bread quota for his family as the "most tedious activity since the revolt started." The growing difficulty involved in obtaining basic commodities was not the only dilemma Egyptian consumers had to face recently. A significant increase in the price of commodities, fresh produce and bread is also noteworthy. Except for subsidised baladi or traditional Egyptian bread -- sold for LE0.05 per loaf -- for which a restricted portion per consumer is allowed, other bread types registered a 100 per cent price increase. The LE0.2 and LE0.25 loaves were sold for LE0.4 and LE0.5 each. "Bread has become more expensive and it has shrunk in size," said Abu Isaac. Fresh vegetables and fruits also registered a slight price increase last week. "Quantities were fewer, consumers were crowding over available resources and traders were not willing to negotiate prices. It was a matter of take it or leave it," said civil servant Nadia Sabri, who added that it was hard to tell whether the sudden price increases were due to limited transportation or because some traders were taking advantage of the situation. Fortunately, the hikes did not last for long. Prices went back to normal this week as the consumer rush was abated thanks to the renewed product availability and a restored sense of security. "We have been suffering from high prices since last Ramadan. It was impossible to put up with further price increases, particularly as regular income has been interrupted as a result of the curfew," said housekeeper Mariam Reda. Other effects include the fact that, as mobile phone shops were shut down, it was impossible to purchase mobile credit cards except on the black market. A LE10 card worth of calling time was sold in the morning at LE11, but as curfew time approached, it reached LE13. Gas stations were no exception to this trend. Vehicles queued for more than half an hour before their turn came, only to be allowed a maximum of 15 litres of 90 Octane gasoline. The 92 Octane gasoline was not sold at all at many fuelling stations. So far, only national gas stations such as Co-op and Misr are operating while Mobil and Shell have re-opened only a small number of their stations. "We are taking the right measures in order to operate again," said Hihad Shelbaya, public affairs manager at ExxomMobil, who added that the safety of the company's employers and customers is a top priority. "At present, we are studying the gradual return of our activity in an orderly manner." While medicines are available, it is becoming harder to deliver prescriptions during curfew time. Subsidised infant formulas are also available but in restricted portions. "It makes me nervous to think that I am allowed only one box of my children's formula. It lasts only for two days," said Magda Beshai, mother of nine- month-old twins, who asked relatives in different districts to buy the same formula from other pharmacies. "I'm not sure what will happen next," she said.
