By: Esther Natelia Scott
Market women at the Zwedru Central Market are raising serious concerns over the sharp increase in commodity prices, blaming the rising U.S. dollar exchange rate as a major driver behind the inflation. They are urgently calling on the Liberian government to step in and take action to stabilize the market and protect struggling traders.
During a visit to the market, several women traders expressed frustration over the growing difficulty in maintaining their businesses due to escalating prices of essential goods. Chief among their concerns is the cost of a 25-kilogram bag of rice, which has risen from LRD 3,500 to LRD 3,800 in recent weeks.
โThe U.S. rate keeps going up, and everything in the market depends on it,โ said one of the traders. โFrom rice to oil, pig feet drums, everything we sell is affected. We are not making any profit.โ
Another commonly used item, the pig feet drum, has also seen a price increaseโfrom USD 130 to USD 140. The traders say this hike is directly linked to the weakening of the Liberian dollar against the U.S. dollar, which continues to climb steadily on the local market.
Many of the women, who rely on daily sales to feed their families and pay school fees, say they are now selling at a loss and watching their small businesses slowly collapse. Customers, too, are buying less due to the high costs, further worsening the situation for vendors.
โWe are crying in the market,โ one woman said. โOur children are hungry, and we canโt continue like this. Government needs to take this matter seriously.โ
The market women are pleading with national authorities to implement economic measures that will help regulate the exchange rate and reduce inflation, particularly for essential goods.
As the U.S. dollar continues to dominate transactions in Liberia, small business owners and low-income earners are increasingly feeling the squeeze. The situation at Zwedru Central Market reflects a broader national concern about the cost of living, one that demands urgent government attention.
