Urgent need for market action amid skyrocketing prices

Nepali households are left to battle surging prices alone. The government must monitor markets better.

The cost of daily essentials has risen again, making life more expensive for Nepali households. For instance, just three months ago, you could buy a bag of Jira Masino rice for Rs2,100, but the same strain now costs about Rs2,500 . The price of leafy vegetables has skyrocketed in Kathmandu. Cooking oil and dairy products account for the largest share of people’s expenditure, while fruits, once a daily purchase for many households, have become less frequent. Commuting to and from office, schools and universities has also become costly. Kathmanduites are grappling with the artificial shortage of cooking gas in the market. As a result, families are compromising on how they eat, spend and save, with the burden falling disproportionately on low- and middle-income families.