As Ramadan arrives, inflation chokes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
In North African nations, higher food costs will make it harder to access supplies for the festive month.
With Ramadan starting, households in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia will be struggling to supply their pantries. Ongoing inflation has pushed up food prices and caused shortages.
Inflation was supercharged by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Morocco, Tunisia and especially Algeria are key wheat importers and saw higher prices weigh down state budgets during 2022.
Higher prices for fertilizers and transportation have also pushed up food production costs globally. But in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the weeks leading up to Ramadan typically add to inflation, as households stock up for festivities during the holy month.
Algeria’s national statistics agency reported overall annual inflation at 9.49% in January, and food inflation reached 13.53%. Algerians have been especially penalized by the price of fresh goods, which in the capital, Algiers, jumped by 23.58% year on year.
