All rise

"Consumers Lebanon said on Tuesday that the prices of staples and other basic commodities rose by 47.5% in the last two years. Speaking to reporters, the President of Consumers Lebanon, Zuhair Berro, said that part of the rise in the cost of living in Lebanon can be attributed to the worldwide surge in the prices of oil and wheat.

However, Berro accused the government of failing to take any action to help protect consumers. He added that despite a government decision to remove the 5% tariffs on 17 basic items, the prices of these commodities continued to rise."