Fruit prices skyrocket due to the heat wave and heavy rain.
August consumer prices rose again to the 3% level for the first time in three months, and
most major fruit prices in September are expected to rise compared to the previous year.
Discounts on ’20’s popular products such as beef, apples, and chestnuts’ from the 7th on the
morning of the 5th. 11 o’clock at E-Mart Yongsan branch located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. It was crowded with people pulling shopping carts and looking around. However, even after looking at vegetables, fruits, meat, etc. for a while, it was noticeable that housewives hesitated to put them in the shopping cart.
Mr. Kim, in his 40s, who came to buy groceries after his children went to school, said, “My child said he wanted to eat fruit, but Korean fruits such as peaches were more expensive, so I bought mangoes from the Philippines. I hope the prices of apples will come down soon.”
As prices continued to rise, people were putting relatively cheap discounted items or imported products with little price fluctuation in their shopping carts.
Some consumers said they expected a price cut for some items due to the government’s price management in preparation for Chuseok and said, “We are purchasing only what we need right now and postponing the purchase of the rest.”
Mr. Kim, who is in his 50s, whom I met that day, was wandering around the vegetable section, put a bag full of four onions in his cart, and then turned around. He said, “Right now, the price of vegetables is too high, perhaps because the rainy season is over. I was planning to make a side dish, but a zucchini costs 2,000 won, so I only bought onions that were on sale.”
He added, “Even if there is a discount, the price is not cheap, but it is still better than buying when there is no discount, so I buy it.”
On this day, onions at E-Mart were on a 20% discount at 2,384 won per net (4 pieces , 800g ). Mr. Kim said, “I plan to visit the supermarket again next week after checking the items for which the government is promoting discounts.”
Lee Soon-rye (73), who shops about twice a week, said, “I feel the rise in prices of fresh food with my whole body. My 5-year-old granddaughter does not eat side dishes other than cutlassfish, so today I bought 5 pieces of cutlassfish for 29,000 won. “Even after seeing it, I forced myself to capture it,” he said.
He sighed, saying, “Just last year, I think the same cutlassfish was bought for the low to mid 20,000 won range on average,” adding, “These days, you always have to pay the mid to high 20,000 won range to buy it.”
At the same time, he said, “I heard that the government will lower prices before the holidays, so I hope they go down quickly.” He added, “I want to prepare a large meal and eat it with my family, at least for the holidays.”
At 1pm on this day, Lotte Mart in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. The situation of people shopping here was the same.
Ms. Lee, a housewife in her 60s, said, “The prices have risen so much that if you spend 100,000 won, you can only buy meat, wraps, and fruit for 1-2 meals,” adding, “I usually look at discounted items, but today, bulgogi is on sale.” “I bought bulgogi because I was doing it,” he said토토사이트.
As the prices of domestically produced agricultural products soared, we were able to meet consumers who said, “I would rather buy imported products that are similar in price to before.” Jeon Jin-yeong (34), whom I met at the fruit corner, said, “I heard that fruit prices are high due to the rainy season and heat wave, but even common apples are too expensive. Imported fruit is the price you can afford.”
He said, “There are ancestral rites during the holidays, so I absolutely have to buy apples, pears, and meat, but I often stop by the supermarket and buy them when there are discounts.” He added, “If there are no discounts, I think I will buy the cheapest fruits and vegetables from Coupang.” . On this day, Hongro apples were 15,900 won per bag (4 to 7 pieces), and peaches were 21,900 won per box (5 to 7 pieces).
According to the National Statistical Office on this day, the consumer price index increase rate last month rose again to the 3% level for the first time in three months. In particular, the fresh food index, whose prices fluctuate greatly depending on the climate, such as fish, vegetables, and fruits, rose 5.6% compared to the same month last year.
This is interpreted to be due to the effects of heat waves and heavy rain. Fruit prices in particular rose 5.4% during this period, raising the overall price level by 0.26%. Compared to last year, apples rose 30.5% and peaches rose 23.8%.
The prevailing observation is that prices of major fruits will rise in September. The Korea Rural Economic Institute’s Agricultural Observation Center predicted that the prices of apples, pears, tangerines (house), grapes, and peaches will all rise compared to the same period last year through a fruit and vegetable observation report issued on this day.
As consumers were very concerned, the government also hastily introduced a price stabilization policy. The government announced that from three weeks before Chuseok until the day before the holiday, the average price of ’20’s sacred products’ will be lowered by more than 5% compared to the same period last year.