Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital have decried what they described as unprecedented increase in the prices of some essential commodities, especially food items in the new year.

Some of the residents who spoke to The Tide on the turn-out of events with respect to prices of some commodities on their return to Port Harcourt in the new year, said they were very surprised at the rise in prices of some commodities, on their return to Port Harcourt.

Mr. Mercy Amos, who resides within the Rumuokoro axis of Port Harcourt told The Tide that the change in prices with the few days in the new year cannot be explained, and is unacceptable even now that much money has been expended in the Christmas and the new year festivity.

According to her “Before I travelled home last December, I bought a medium size tine of Mile for N550, and just to buy the same for N600 on return on January 7t, 2011”.

Apart from the beverage, Mrs Amos also said that a ball of Onions she bought for N20 last Christmas, now sells for between N70 and N100, while the size of frozen fish she use to buy for N300, now goes for between N400 and N500.

On his part, Felix Owhor explain that he noticed some changes in the prices of items he bought during Christmas and now, pointing out that he was surprised on the increase in prices of some items in the market.

He said that the prices of fish and some provisions like soap, milk among others have changed, pointing out that Dettol soap he bought for N100 last Christmas period, now sells for N130, among other commodities.

Felix   posited that the price hike is artificial, and is the creation of some disgruntled traders who want to take advantage of the Christmas and new year break to inflate prices.

Another resident of Port Harcourt, Mrs. Edith Amadi expressed dissatisfaction over greed of traders, because as she puts it “ I see no reason why another increase will come in the new year, after all that we suffered within the Christmas period”.

Mrs. Amadi who resides at Mile One in Diobu, however expressed hope that things will normalise as every body settles down for business.

However, when The Tide visited the Mile One Market, it was revealed that not all commodity  prices changed, except for few of them, as compared to the last Christmas prices.

Commodities like beans had remained the same, as compared to the Christmas price, while onions appeared to be some what higher than the cost of the Christmas prices.

A fish dealer, Madam Anthonia, who spoke to The Tide on the matter, said that she could not explain the reason for the high price, but quickly pointed out that many fishermen have gone on holiday, and that except they return to business that fish scarcity will endure.

Corlins Walter