And like the COVID cases, the price of flour is also on the rise. According to a reliable source, bales went up by $2 - bringing the popular "La Gitana" back to the price it was at in October of last year. But while it cannot go over the ceiling price, it will still have a drastic effect on the everyday lives of Belizeans. Pack bread, bun, and pastries may eventually see an increase in their own prices as a consequence of the new flour prices. Today, we spoke with one popular bakery owner who said that, with the cost of all the other ingredients going up, they may also have to raise their prices.
Voice of: Salvador Cambranes, Owner, Cambranes Bakery
"Yes, another nail in the coffin, so, I guess the consumers eventually will have to pay for the difference in the cost. It's not something I would want to do, but eventually we are a profit business and we have to make profit; the shortening and the gas keeps going up - every little thing. The cinnamon also going up. We just keep adding up."
Reporter
"You said you haven't changed your price in almost a decade and now you might be forced to do so. What's that feeling?"
Salvador Cambranes
"It's not something we would want to do, but I have always kept my price to the minimum, but I have to keep the business going, so it's part of the business."
Reporter
"How do you think this will affect the poorer population?"
Salvador Cambranes
"Well, I think eventually they'd have to pay, but they will probably eat less. that's the bottom line."
And one consumer, who buys her flour straight from the mill, says she's not too worried about the price increase, and has some advice for other Belizeans.
Barbara Johnston, Consumer
"Things are going up and we understand its due to the pandemic and the acquiring of staff and other stuff."
Reporter
"Is it something you think that you would be able to manage though?"
Barbara Johnston, Consumer
"Yes, I think so. I think I'll be able to manage it. You have to economize, don't waste, maximize on what you have and this is what we don't have in Belize right now, people waste a lot. I don't. If the flour is going up, we'll expect the flour items made from flour to be up also."
Reporter
"Things were really cheap and now things are getting harder. What's your reaction having watched that over the years."
Barbara Johnston, Consumer
"Having watched that over the years, it isn't much different. In the 60s sugar and rice use to be 2 and 3 cents a pound and it went up steadily over the years and if we don't manage the little that we have, then we have something to complain about. I don't have any complains."
Our source tells us the increase is due to the cost of wheat going up 39% between last August and now. The prices went from US$269 per tonne to now US$369 per tonne. This increase is global and the mill has been trying to keep the prices down, but they cannot absorb any more of the cost.
In addition, there is a cost increase for the material used to make the plastic flour sacks - which comes from China.
