Money loses value, power, and its beauty too... The more demand increases and supply declines the more prices increases…the more merchants save for the worst day. Some times I even think merchants long for the coming of this troubling day. Today’s society discuses the issue of inflation…

What is your opinion about inflation?
“… a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber…."

Former President Ronald Reagan

“It creates imbalance in life. Only those who can afford will survive.”

Mihretu

“Things are way expensive. The money I spent and the product or services I get are not proportional. Prices are high, what I get on the other hand is undersized.”

Kamila, Housewife

“It is the result of economic crisis right? The money in my hand can buy me nothing except misery. My parents and relatives think I can afford to live a decent life, because I am paid monthly. Surprisingly, they are bugging me to get married and give them a grand child, they think its like old times.”

Lulit, Secretary
“I can not afford the house rent, food expense, transportation fee, and worse. I can not chill with my friends. Oh! Life has become too difficult.”

Eshetu, Garage worker

“I am a window shopper. I want to get all the beautiful clothes for my girl friend, but I can not afford to do so. I have to save some money for the future and I believe saving is a lot more than investing. Inflation is not permanent, things will get better and the market will be normal… then I can give my girl whatever I felt.”

Dimetrose, Taxi driver

Chasing few goods

‘Too many dollars chasing too few goods lead to what economists call demand-pull inflation.’
Let’s face it, we are in big trouble. Few goods are valuing too many pennies that lead us to inflation.
After WWI, Germany faced a great inflation. The currency could not afford firewood and the citizens, burnt their currency. In the 1970s, America also has faced the same problem of inflation; it was the number one public anxiety by then, but the fear is still in most American hearts.
Rather than its cause, the result affects most. The result can be of war, social and political upheaval, or economic crisis, still drop off currency is a nightmare. In a situation, where your currency could buy twice or ten times less than what you used to buy, would you care to know why? Our mind is too busy looking for a way out of such troubles.
I remember paying 45 cents for transportation five or six years ago, the old good days have passed. What does forty five cents mean now, except being a bunch of pennies?
You might have lots of money in your pocket – but suddenly your mind starts doing the math unconsciously with the most frequently asked questions. Are you going to have your usual lunch with your friends? Something you use to do when you get your salary. Or pay for the house rent, buy clothes for your baby girly?
And now the surtax! It seems a life time opportunity for greedy merchants, who would not mind eating you alive. Under the cover of the so called 10% increment, merchants are now profiting mercilessly from the deprived citizens, who lament, “we are not after the ‘luxury goods’ to make our day shine. Give us our daily bread.”
Let’s take teff, since it is our daily ‘bread’. You use to afford 50kg for a price of 150-170, now where is this price… it has now doubled even tripled. Thanks to the surtax! What more should we expect? Burning our paper currency as firewood? Or serve it for break fast, say the most cynical.
More than the cause, the result is scratching our back, making us lose our mind. Government authorities are trying to stabilize the market by providing wheat at zero price though gossip is all over the kebeles claiming the product being rubbish. Global missions are forcing us to live the hard way besides the rise of fuel price.
I am just holding my breath to the window shopper citizen to be a real hunter.