Corona Virus is not the only thing killing us in this pandemic

The corona virus makes news and grips the headlines but it is only the tip of the iceberg there are other things that are hurting us too.

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Everywhere I look there is talk of the corona virus pandemic. It is a news maker for sure but there are other things that are hurting and making a dent into our lives.

For the common Joe it is a time of trials both on the health as well as the economic front.
I cannot think of any common folk who has not been affected in one way or the other.

Where I currently live there has been a lockdown which has lasted over 2 months. This means that practically everyone has been confined to their homes.
For those who have a job and if their office permits there may be an opportunity of “Working from Home”
For a lot of others this is a case of stay at home with no work and no pay.
This is causing financial hardships to a lot of people.

If this was not trouble enough one finds that the cost of the essential food items like Flour, cooking oil and other such products has been going up a lot.
I find basic commodities like sugar has gone up almost 50% in a span of over two months.

During the lockdown restrictions essential services like medical services, petrol pumps and the general shops selling groceries and food supplies were the only things allowed to operate.

So it could be a case of supply chain disruptions. whatever the case apart from the corona virus and the fear of losing ones dear ones to disease there has been increased hardships, fear of loss of jobs, work and employments.

Plus the increase in prices has been hitting most people quite hard.
A lot of the food commodities like pulses, spices etc are purchased and stores by large retailers and repacked and branded with their own markings and pricing.
So if anyone is making a lot of money it is the people who are associated with the food supply chains and those associated with other essential supplies likes hand sanitizers, masks and other related products.

I find it due to a number of factors

• Strained supply chains

• Hoarding by sellers as well as the consumers

• Lack of regulation

It is simply a case of cat's away, the mice will play. Due to lack of efficient price control the sellers are having a gala time making money. They are controlling both the supplies as well as the prices.
There are cases where old, expired stuff is being sold at the maximum retail price MRP and no one is complaining. Buyers are lapping it up due to FOMO setting in.

I observed this when the lockdowns were put into place and while restrictions are easing now I see no signs of the prices going down.

Customer is king : Turned upside down

We grew up listening to the adage that “Customers is king” this may be the case for business struggling to get customers but in the current times sellers of food and essential goods call all the shots and the consumer has little say.

A question to you: Have you faced any such price increase ?

How are you coping with it ?
So long folks stay safe and secure.

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