The government is still, up to now, unable to curb the high-price crisis, although global consumer prices have declined, according to the latest data of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
The government has repeatedly admitted its inability to control prices in light of the current wave of high prices, although political parties have repeatedly called for an end to the problem of unstructured distribution chains, with an end to speculators and intermediaries.
Opposition MPs have repeatedly emphasized that brokers and speculators are primarily responsible for the price hike, which requires restructuring and legalizing wholesale markets, in addition to temporarily removing the value-added tax imposed on markets.
The opposition also demanded the implementation of the consumer’s right to information, by informing Moroccans of any price increases a full week before their approval.
Those interested in economic affairs also fear, in their recent reports, that the monthly change in international prices will not be reflected in the Kingdom, stressing that Morocco is a large importer of basic foodstuffs, and if it is not positively reflected on citizens, this matter will greatly affect vulnerable groups and the middle class, especially The latter, which is on its way to displacement.
According to the FAO Food Price Index, basic food commodities continued their way down, by 1.4 percent, during the month of June.
Wheat prices decreased by 1.3 percent, while the value of sugar decreased by 3.2 percent. As for the rest of the food products, they decreased between 1.2 and 3.5 percent, compared to the previous months.
In contrast, the latest figures provided by the High Commissioner for Planning, the indicative figure for foodstuffs decreased by 0.8 percent.
During the recent period, the prices of “vegetables and fruits” decreased by 7.9 percent, while fish and seafood decreased by 7 percent, “milk, cheese and eggs” by 0.6 percent, and “bread and cereals” by 0.4 percent.
The decline in the “FAO” food price index is reflected in the improvement of Morocco’s trade balance indicators, in the direction of reducing the value of imports, which is expected to continue its decline; This means an improvement in the performance of the trade balance during the second half of the current year.