Consumers are calling for stringent monitoring of local markets to curb any price rise in food and consumer products in the coming weeks. A small price rise has been seen in products such as coffee, juices and some brands of cooking oil. Some supermarkets are offering discounts on old stock to attract consumers. One supermarket promoted sweets and biscuits that were expiring in September with a ‘two-for-one' offer, which seemed to be a desperate attempt to use Ramadan as an opportunity to sell old goods. Ahmad Al-Maghdhawi, a Saudi national, demanded penalties against those who increased the price of coffee by 5 percent. Ahmad Maqboul, a shop owner, attributed the rise in coffee price to importers. He said coffee price had increased by SR6 per kilo, from SR26 to SR32. He said that the price of a brand of juice concentrate that is in high demand in Ramadan had increased from SR9 to SR12. Dr. Fahd Bin Jum'ah, an economic expert, blamed the increase in prices during Ramadan to consumers insisting on purchasing particular brands of products. __
