CAIRO: The prices of cooking essentials such as oil and ghee have risen nearly 35 percent since the outbreak of Egypt's January 25 Revolution. The price of a bottle of oil reached an average of 10 EGP (U.S. $1.7) when it was previously sold at 7 EGP (U.S. $1.2), the price of a container of corn oil rose from 12 EGP (U.S. $2) to 14 EGP (U.S. $2.3), and the price of sunflower oil rose from 10 EGP (U.S. $1.7) to 12.5 EGP (U.S. $2.1). Youm7 spoke to business owners during a field study and owners said there has been no increase in cooking oil prices this week, but the amount of oil in the containers has decreased while prices remain high. The price of a container of ghee increased by 6.5 EGP (U.S. $1.1) despite a reduction in weight of 200 grams, so the price is currently 25 EGP (U.S. $4.2) while previously a container of ghee cost 18.5 EGP (U.S. $3.1). Other price increases include tuna: a carton of 48 cans now costs 170 EGP (U.S. $28.6) where previously it cost 135 EGP (U.S. $22.7), which led to an increase of 3-4 EGP (U.S. $0.50-0.70) per can. The price of a carton of tuna chunks is 270 EGP (U.S. $45.5). Before January 25 a carton cost 230 EGP (U.S. $38.8). The businessmen said the price of sugar is stable at 5 EGP (U.S. $0.80) per kilo, while molasses is 4.5 EGP (U.S. $0.80), halva is 12 EGP (U.S. $2), tahini costs 16 EGP (U.S. $2.7), and a 400g bag of pasta costs 2 EGP (U.S. $0.30).
