Eid shopping boom hits Algeria

Despite soaring food prices, pre-Eid shopping madness in Algeria turns even the stingiest consumers into lavish spenders.

By Mohand Ouali for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/11/10

With the feast of sacrifice drawing near, spending is reaching its peak as Algerians celebrate Eid al-Adha with new clothes and stocks of food. Yet, it is always the same story across the country: sheep are expensive this year.

Algerian buyers repeat it so much that they forget that a sharp rise in grocery prices always accompanies festivities. On top of that, there are changes in the weather which affect the availability of agricultural produce and, therefore, prices. A little rain can spark a surge in prices.

"Buy now, it'll be more expensive tomorrow," greengrocer Faouzi warns his loyal customers.

As Eid al-Adha approaches, businesses start to shut down, which also contributes to the spike in prices. Whether in agriculture, commerce or transport, big celebrations are always preceded by the huge exodus of workers whose families live outside major towns.

With entire companies relying on migrant workers, Algiers is particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. Finding a bakery on feast days is a challenge, especially if the holiday falls near the weekend.

"Everyone knows that the majority of those working in bakeries come from the Jijel or Kabylie regions," explains Amar, an elderly man living in Algiers. "It's natural that they should celebrate Eid with their families."

The people of Algiers, however, have learnt to grin and bear it, coping with the difficulties of shopping and getting around the city in the run-up to feast days.

"I have a small family, so I don't have too much to worry about, but I've already started stocking up. My biggest problem is getting hold of bread. For several days, we'll be eating the flatbreads that my wife will have to make," Redouane explained.

Nora, a public sector worker, has taken a few hours off work to finish buying new clothes for her children. "I sorted out my aoula (stock of food) a few days ago. I don't take any chances there. It's all planned," she said with a smile of someone who has it all sewn up.

Grocery and convenience stores are practically cleared out. There are fewer and fewer products available.

"It all goes so quickly," said Ahmed, who works at a small convenience store in the city center.

"People buy everything: sugar, butter, tinned milk, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti, eggs, yogurt, chocolate, preserves and so on, all in huge quantities, either to stock up or to make their cakes. It's excellent for our business!" he said cheerfully, pointing to the emptying shelves.

For consumers, Eid means huge spending and sacrifice.

"Fortunately, my boss gave us a bonus so that we could buy our sheep, and we're being paid in advance of Eid. Otherwise, I don't know what I'd have done," said Mahmoud.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/11/16/feature-01.