Food prices are on the rise everywhere in the world. In Thailand, prices of limes have been at historical highs for months, now as much as 10 baht each in wet markets. Instant noodle makers want to hike their prices by up to 20% as raw material costs have surged, but Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit insists they can't.
And with diesel now poised to rise beyond the 30-baht per litre cap as the government can no longer afford subsidies, I'm sure retail prices of many more items will follow suit.
In Vietnam, manufacturers have raised prices of many basics -- instant noodles, rice, sugar, fish sauce and cooking oil -- since late March amid skyrocketing costs of fuel and raw materials.
