Public urged to report consumer price rise

UAE authorities have urged the public to report any attempt by dealers to increase in the prices of food and other consumer products, saying this would help curb manipulation and ensure discipline in the market.

The Ministry of Economy made the call during a visit by its officials to Al Ain vegetable market, where it fined 24 shops for hiking prices of their products, the Arabic language daily Alkhaleej reported on Wednesday.

Head of the Consumer Protection Department, Hashim Al Nuaimi, said the Ministry would not tolerate any offence by shops, adding inspectors would continue their surprise visits to markets in all areas of the UAE.

“We call on consumers in the country to report any price increase and to cooperate with our inspectors in this respect…cooperation by the public is crucial to control the market and prevent manipulation by traders or any attempt to raise their prices whether in Ramadan or any other month,” he said.

Nuaimi said the ministry’s raids on shops and ensuing penalties had contributed to reducing consumer prices by nearly 20 per cent since the start or Ramadan.

Alkhaleej said the fined shops included 20 groceries which failed to put price tags on their products and three for raising the price of some vegetables and fruits. “One shop was fined for raising the price of chicken by Dhone.”

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