Barely two months after the N18,000 minimum wage was signed into law by the Federal Government, prices of foodstuffs and other consumables have risen.

A market survey conducted by The Tide in some markets in Port Harcourt indicates that non-perishable goods are the worst hit, including bread and other products.

Some of the goods that have gone all time high in their prices include soaps, sardine, batteries and beverages especially tinned milk.

The survey indicates that a tin of Peak Milk now goes for N150 as against N100 two months ago.  A tin of sardine now goes for N140, while a pack that sells for between N7,000 and N8,000 now sells for N13,000.

A trader Mr Blessing Nwarorue who spoke to The Tide remarked “a carton of Titus brand of sardine before sold for N10,000, now we sell it for N18,000, finger batteries sold for N8,000 for a carton but now we buy it N16,000”.

Another grocery retailer Albert Brodas Onwueri affirmed that there is a slight increase in prices of goods, but disagreed with the view that it was due to salary increase for workers.

His words: “If you recall, shortly before the elections the federal government closed the borders so it became difficult for people to import goods”.

He was of the view that the border closure gave rise to increase in the prices of consumables, since business people could not bring in good, hence the few in circulation rose in price.

In the area of foodstuffs, survey indicates that prices are still relatively stable. For instance, a bag of onions which used to sell at N24,000, according to Miss Ngozi Eze, has now come down to N10,000.

Investigations reveal that as at February a custard rubber of beans sold for N550 but now the same custard rubber of beans sells for N600.

Another trader who spoke to The Tide on the development, Mr. Daniel Chukwu blamed the increase in the prices of some foodstuffs on high transportation cost incurred by the traders.

He disclosed that about two months ago, a bag of pepper was sold for N23,000 but now sells for N15,000, noting that other factors such as the seasons affect prices of foodstuffs as well.

In the view of Kenneth Okabue, the prices of goods cannot be tied to the new minimum wage announced by the Federal Government in May.

He pointed out that since most foodstuffs are bought from the northern parts of the country, transportation cost is high due to distance.

Okabue observed that the only foodstuffs that have not been affected by the  price increment include rice and garri.  A small basin of garri.

He said, “we don’t have any problem with rice because we produce small in the country coupled with the huge importation”.

The trader while dismissing view that the increment in the prices of foodstuffs may have a risen following the new minimum wage declared, “N18,000 is even too small, government should be able to pay more than that.  Most families salaries are spent on foodstuffs”.