High Rice Cost Creating Fears of Asia Unrest

[sweeps]

The price of rice, a staple in the diets of nearly half the world’s population, has almost doubled on international markets in the last three months. That has pinched the budgets of millions of poor Asians and raised fears of civil unrest.

Link

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Haven't read the article yet (I will) but have heard that this is driven by increased commodities speculation the part of people & investing institutions who are withdrawing dollars from stock markets recently.

My friend who eats basmati rice daily told me her price increased from $8 a bag to $18 per bag. Likewise the chapatti flour she uses has hugely and quickly increased in price. She says back in Pakistan rice and general food inflation is a big problem for her family.

There are so many people who depend on rice , not just that they like it, but that it is a subsistence food. That is what they ate because it was what they could afford. There is not a shortage; there is just specualtive inflation, right?