Unending price hike
Photo: STAR
The reality of prices spiralling up and up is exceeding the limits of tolerance and patience. With no end in sight, it has proved false the age-old belief that all things that go up must come down. It seems that price escalation has reached levels beyond mortal's control; and only Allah knows when the end will be reached! Market mechanism misunderstood and mismanaged by drives and dictates has set the chain reaction and price overheat which is now beyond help and control. Cunning businessmen may have lost percentages of profits; but are more than recompensed it by margins on volume turnover with much shorter cash flow cycles! A very costly experience for the few, but with many unfortunate sufferers, who are the vast majority of fixed income middle class! The authorities have been trapped and have no way out; and they have more or less accepted the bitter pill. After all, time is the only healer, but Father Time is old, limping along slowly and still slowly! The price rise of foods and other necessities is far faster today than any time in the last two three years! Today we do not have any strikes, transport disruptions, gherao, chadabazi, all of which raise prices; yet price levels only go up and up! This is the sad fact of life in a "crime and corruption free environment". Meanwhile, we have to do with reduced quality, quantity and variety of foods on the table; more so for the elderly retired persons with no elasticity of income! These are bitter days in more ways than one can describe! Who can explain this fallacy, that of higher costs of living under apparently better governance! The reality is mind boggling!
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