Price index jumps in September

Gerard Cassar

Oct 23rd 2008, 16:07

Let us be concrete by giving examples. Corn oil disappeared from at least one popular supermarket for weeks. Now a new name is on the same shelves but with a 71 cents increase per one liter oil plastic bottle. It now cost nearly 1Lm when it was just 64 cents Maltese.
Name available as well as price.
Zejt corn oil,1 lt.. …………………..Lm0.64…-….……€149 formerly, before the elections
Zejt Corn oil 1 lt…………………….Lm 0.94 +……….€220 now

A Daley

Oct 23rd 2008, 15:13

@Karl Abela:- Nowadays, especially in the past weeks, we are reaping huge benefits.

Such as?

Karl continues:- the price index rises because of demand.

Can you explain how we have higher demand, when according to the NSO, we are exporting less, importing less, spending less, tourists are spending less, and the financial sector stagnated?

Demand for what? Are we now eating more then we used to? Are we now using more fuel, are we leaving our lights on just for fun, cause according to the latest statistics, fuel and energy usage has gone down.

Are we buying more vehicles? cause according to NSO we are buying less.

Which side of the word DISASTER do you not understand Karl Abela?

If all is well, then you might have some predictions of what the coming budget is going to be like?

Go on, give us a clue!

michael fenech

Oct 23rd 2008, 14:46

@ Karl Abela.

It seems to me that only PN APOLOGISTS understand the situation in MALTA.

Are you trying to tell us that the GOVERNMENT is handling the situation properly by increasing TAXES at a time when when he should be putting money into it to help the economy instead???????????????

J. Abela

Oct 23rd 2008, 13:40

@Karl Abela
Which benefits are you talking about?

I can't actually see any benefit from the fact the Retail Price Index increases drammatically month after month. All I know is that simply my shopping and fruit bills are on the increase. These are all essential things..

This is REALLY worrying!

Karl Abela

Oct 23rd 2008, 12:04

@Pisani:
Its because thats all you wish to read and hear.

Besides, the price index rises because of demand, which is good news. If there is no demand prices fall. Take the recent fuel prices as a perfect example.

In any case, news can be interpreted good or bad depending on the political bias that ones mind is set to. There is a minority in this country that view most issues in this country as negative, which is then further compounded by a serious lack of understanding about the fundementals of local and world economies. Its happened many times in Malta....a good example is the minority of people who, at the expense of ridiculing themselves, opposed the EURO just for the sake of opposing the government. Nowadays, especially in the past weeks, we are reaping huge benfits.

Joe Galea

Oct 23rd 2008, 12:04

How come we have a boom in price indices almost in all vital sectors? Didn't we have Finanzi fis-Sod, a healthy economy, will have a surplus by 2010, jobs unlimited, etc? ....ooo I slept over the elections, that was Lawrence before the elections telling us that under his helm this country is the new found Heaven on Earth.!! Now I woke up and we are slipping down rapidly to hell.

Now we will have the budget to smash us more and more as it is the first budget after the elections. All of a sudden everything is bleak for Lawrence and we have to take the medicine. Come on Lawrence, just resign and call for an election, it's your only dignified way out.

Manuel Mifsud

Oct 23rd 2008, 11:57

It's not that all of a sudden we are only hearing bad news. It's that bad news items make most sound.

A glimpse at the online comments on articles and letters in this newspaper clearly shows that those on articles and letters regarding some bad news, i.e., increase in inflation, fall in production, increase in deficit etc. are numerous, mostly implying that we are living in tragic times. When the articles or letters refer to some good news, i.e., increase in employment, better job opportunities, stable economy etc, you hardly get any comment.

I urge online readers to comment more often but always try to be objective and offer constructive criticism.

Adrian Sciberras

Oct 23rd 2008, 11:55

it will be worse in october as the dollar strengthens (since we are net importers)...

furthermore, with electricity increase looming, retailers will probably up their prices in October.

I say we are in for more bad times because the country has internal issues (such as electricity charges, dockyard payouts which has to be financed by taxpayers money, and lost revenue from motor car duty) and is also exposed to the global depression (e.g. toly dismissing 84 ppl meaning govt will stop collecting NI and have to pay unemployment benefits).

I say we are ripe for a VAT and NI increases and more ugly surpises in this budget.

Joanne Micallef

Oct 23rd 2008, 11:51

Because the general election has just passed and parlament is back from recess. Don’t worry, things will get better in 3 years time.....as usual.

john pisani

Oct 23rd 2008, 11:30

why is it that all of a sudden we are just hearing bad news???????????