Commodities Prices in Battambang Province

6th April 2008
By Lem Pisith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Khmerization

The protest against the inflation has been held today following reports of dramatic increases in the prices of commodities.
Mr. Lem Pisith of Radio Free Asia reports from Battambang:

In Battambang, there are two different kinds of price rises. Prices of commodities like beef, fish and pork have not risen much. However, there are some increases to the prices of beef which have increased from 13,000-14,000* riels per kilo to 15,000-16,000 riels per kilo. But low grade beef is still low at 10,000 riels per kilo.
The prices of pork have increased 16,000 riels to 17,000 riels per kilo and high grade pork meat is 20,000 riels per kilo in some places. This means only a 1,000 riels increase. The price of fresh Treyross fish is 10,000 riels per kilo but smoked fish had risen from 24,000 riels to 30,000 riels per kilo.
But there are notable price rises in two commodities: in manufactured goods and the costs of services.
The bus fares from Battambang to Phnom Penh had risen from 16,000 riels to 25,000 riels in just a few days. And the taxi fares had risen from 30,000 riels to 50,000 riels- a 20,000 riels increased, in anticipation of the Khmer New Year and Chinese Ancestors Festival.
According to my conversations with a bus driver, the rising transport fares are related to the petrol prices which have gone up to 4,900 riels per litre. The taxi drivers have complained about the rising costs of petrol and have converted their taxi to using gas. But they said that it is very hard to find gas in Battambang and prices of gas had also risen from 4,200 to 4,500 riels per litre in just a few weeks.

Prices of Commodities in the Eastern Provinces

In the eastern provinces, the prices of commodities had risen notably. Please listen to Mr. Ratha Visal’s report in Khmer:http://www.rfa.org/service/audio_popup.html?file=http://www.rfa.org/khmer/audio/2008/04/06/h0405sr.mp3

Prices of Commodities in Kratie and Stung Treng Provinces

In Kratie and Stung Treng, the rising prices of commodities have worried many locals. Please listen to Mr. Or Phearith’s report in Khmer:http://www.rfa.org/service/audio_popup.html?file=http://www.rfa.org/khmer/audio/2008/04/06/h0405-pr.mp3

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* US$1= 4,000 riels.