Kerala records INR40 price hike

A INR40 (US$0.59) price hike in Kerala, India, over the past week has been blamed on cement companies and the state’s failure to organise a price regulatory body, according to The Hindu. The price has increased from INR355-360/bag to INR395-400/bag.

While cement sales in the state usually record a 20 per cent dip in monsoon season, this price increase has negatively affected the cement suppliers.

"Apart from the consumers, we too are badly affected. Dealers are struggling to pay wages to their staff during this festival season," said Sirajuddeen Illathodi, state secretary of the Kerala State Cement Dealers Welfare Association.

Cement companies have reportedly been blamed for reducing the product supply and creating an artificial demand.

"It’s a unilateral and arbitrary increase. An increase of INR10 or 15 could have been understood. But this is too much. We want the government to intervene," said Mr Illathodi.