In North Hamgyong Province, market prices of some food items are falling to pre-COVID-19 levels, but food sellers are still finding it hard to make money, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Friday that “the prices of food in Hoeryong’s markets have been continuously falling, with the price of some items falling below what they were before COVID-19.”
According to the source, the prices of cooking oil, seasonings and other foodstuffs in Hoeryong’s markets have recently fallen to — or below — pre-COVID levels.
For example, a kilogram of cooking oil in Hoeryong’s markets cost KPW 10,000 as of June 19. This was far below what oil was selling for as recently as last month, when it cost KPW 15,000 a kilogram. As the price of cooking oil in Hoeryong’s markets was KPW 11,000 prior to COVID-19, the current price differs little in comparison.
A 450-gram packet of seasoning costs KPW 13,500, similar to the pre-COVID price of KPW 14,000.
Eggs — which are sold by the kilogram — cost KPW 12,500 a kilogram. One kilogram equals 15 eggs, so each egg costs KPW 835, which is lower than the pre-COVID price, the source said.
In Chongjin’s markets, a kilogram of cooking oil cost KPW 11,000 as of June 19, while a 450-gram packet of seasoning cost KPW 13,800. Prior to the pandemic, cooking oil cost KPW 11,000 a kilogram and a packet of seasoning KPW 14,000, which shows that prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
However, market sellers still cannot make much money because almost nobody has cash to spare, the source said.
“Economic troubles that emerged after the pandemic still continue, and combined with the barley hump, so many people are struggling that you can count on one hand the number of families that eat three meals a day. No matter how much the market price of foodstuffs falls, few people are buying anything, so sellers are having a tough time making money.
“People constantly complain that the price of food [grains like rice] isn’t falling, so it doesn’t matter if the price of seasonings and other items fall. Everyone is saying that unless smuggling starts again, markets will remain inactive and people’s hardships will grow worse.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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