It’s no secret: costs throughout Lebanon for the overwhelming majority
of products and providers have witnessed an unprecedented spike because the lira
continues to plunge in opposition to the greenback. Although the official fee is round LBP
1,500 for USD 1, the lira is trading on the
black market for LBP 16,000 (present as of June 24, 2021), which interprets
to a whopping 967% surge within the trade fee.
Over the previous 4 months alone, I’ve seen costs of native
items double. For instance, Grasp Kettle Chips (144g) were
selling for LBP 8,000 in February, whereas now a bag goes for LBP 15,000. Candia
Lait 1-L TetraPak of milk are priced at 15,500 LBP, practically double the LBP 8,000
tag they fetched at the beginning of the 12 months.
The other
day I tweeted that “strolling right into a grocery retailer in Lebanon is like getting
again a graded examination. Your coronary heart stops as you scan the numbers on the worth
labels. It’s a harrowing expertise.” However much more harrowing is the large
unfold in costs you’ll sometimes witness throughout retailers.
On Could 5 of this 12 months, I displayed such a divide on my
Instagram tales, spotlighting Elle & Vire butter, which is imported from
France. This butter was chosen to be backed nationally by the federal government,
and thus its worth is fastened at LBP 8,870 for its “Tartine et Delicacies” line and
LBP 11,850 LBP for “Beurre Gastronomique.” In reality, a catchy yellow sticker is
affixed to every bundle of butter with the backed worth in order that there is no such thing as a
doubt as to its regulated standing.
Nevertheless, I stumbled throughout a widely known grocer* who’s audaciously promoting these butters for LBP 30,500 and LBP 40,700, respectively. That’s practically triple the backed fee! Curiously sufficient, the conspicuous yellow stickers are lacking.
| Elle & Vire French butter at one retailer… |
 |
| …versus the similar merchandise at one other retailer. Word the unfold in costs! |
On my newest procuring excursions, I’ve found a couple of extra
discrepancies value highlighting.
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Kellogg’s Rice Krispies (375-g field). Who knew Snap, Crackle and
Pop scored completely different value determinations at completely different outlets? At one retailer, they’re
promoting for LBP 37,500, whereas at one other they’ll set you again LBP 69,999. At
one more, they’re for LBP 75,000. Ouch. That’s precisely double.
 |
| Kellogg’s Rice Krispies sells for LBP 37,500 at one retailer |
 |
| At one other retailer, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies sells for practically LBP 70,000. Worth was decided through stated retailer’s procuring app. |
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Kellogg’s Particular Okay Klasik (375-g bag). I nabbed a number of baggage
of those multi-grain textured flakes on sale for LBP 18,950, whereas different shops are asking
for LBP 34,750 and upward. One may conjecture that they’re on sale maybe as a result of
the expiration date is nearing? Not true. I checked, and so they all replicate the identical
batch, nation of origin, and expiry.
 |
| Kellogg’s Particular Okay Klasik version for LBP 18,950 |
 |
| Worth examine on a preferred procuring app displays a tag of LBP 34,750 for a similar bag of Kellogg’s Particular Okay Klasik |
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St. Dalfour jams (284-g jar, flavors like Orange & Ginger, Apricot,
Strawberry, Blackberry). Relating to jams, St. Dalfour, produced
in France, is my absolute favourite as a result of their complete lineup is original
solely from fruit and fruit juices, with out the addition of sugars,
sweeteners, or pointless gunk. I unearthed a number of them for LBP
32,950 (not pictured beneath), which despatched my jaw dropping, as a result of elsewhere, St. Dalfour instructions
anyplace between LBP 63,500 and LBP 82,590, relying on the flavour. Quelle horreur, n’est-ce pas?!
 |
| St. Dalfour French jams priced between LBP 67,999 and 71,999 at one retailer |
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| The identical jams fetch worth tags ranging between LBP 63,500 and LBP 82,590 elsewhere |
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The concept is to buy round and pay shut consideration to
pricing, notably on international merchandise imported by distributors. That’s
the place you’re more likely to see a major play on costs. The value of native manufacturers
is often set by the model itself right here in Lebanon, so these figures ought to
be similar throughout shops.
That’s, until you’re visiting the landmark
Cafématik at Beirut Worldwide Airport, the place you possibly can make sure you anticipate
assault and theft. Their costs are so astronomically excessive you’d sooner drink
the faucet water from the lavatory faucet with out batting an eyelash. You may
even persuade your self to attend till arrival at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle
airport, the place a bottle of ritzy Evian goes for lower than that of Lebanese
mineral water at Cafématik. I do know I definitely would.
*Word: I’ve chosen to not disclose the names of shops. Besides within the case of government-subsidized and therefore price-regulated merchandise, retailers are free to cost merchandise at their very own discretion.
