Food inflation hammers households in war-hit Iran

"Skyrocketing inflation is jeopardising food security among households in conflict-hit Iran, new figures show, as diplomatic efforts to end the war launched by the United States and Israel intensify. The people must realistically understand the conditions and restrictions of the country, President Masoud Pezeshkian told a group of officials who gathered on Sunday to discuss rebuilding structures damaged or destroyed in US and Israeli attacks. It is natural that there are difficulties and problems in this path, but through people's cooperation and reliance on national cohesion, problems can be solved, he was quoted as saying by state media."

"Pezeshkian's comments came a day after the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI) said Farvardin, the first month of the Persian calendar year that ended on April 20, had an inflation rate of 73.5 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. The SCI also noted that inflation was five percent higher in Farvardin compared to the previous month. The Central Bank of Iran, which reports figures based on a different method and with different data sets, reported a slightly lower inflation rate of 67 percent for Farvardin compared to a year earlier, and a seven percent monthly increase."

"Although not matched, both figures indicate a considerably accelerating pace for general inflation, which has been among the highest in the world over recent years, and is continuously making Iranians poorer. A Tehran resident told Al Jazeera she could no longer afford some of the items she could just last month. And it's not just me I think most people in society right now can't afford many of the things they want, she said."

"Figures from the institutions also showed that food inflation is much higher than headline inflation, meaning that people are increasingly forced to pay an expanding share of their shrinking s"

Skyrocketing inflation and a plunging currency are increasing food prices and threatening food security among households in conflict-hit Iran. Diplomatic efforts to end a US- and Israeli-launched war are intensifying. President Masoud Pezeshkian told officials that difficulties and problems exist but can be solved through public cooperation and national cohesion. Statistical Center of Iran figures show Farvardin inflation at 73.5% year-on-year, with a 5% increase versus the previous month. The Central Bank reports 67% year-on-year inflation and a 7% monthly increase. Both measures indicate accelerating general inflation that continues to make people poorer. Food inflation is higher than headline inflation, forcing households to pay a growing share of their shrinking resources.

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