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Viewing cable 07KUWAIT410, RISING COST OF LIVING HAS KUWAITI CONSUMERS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07KUWAIT410 2007-03-21 13:12 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Kuwait
VZCZCXRO1327
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0410/01 0801312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211312Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8561
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/EX 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AFSN ALOW ECON ETRD PGOV KU
SUBJECT: RISING COST OF LIVING HAS KUWAITI CONSUMERS 
GROUSING 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1772 
     B. KUWAIT 285 
     C. KUWAIT 295 
     D. KUWAIT 305 
     E. KUWAIT 332 
 
1.  (SBU) The cost of living in Kuwait continues to rise, 
with prices for basic consumer goods, food, and rents 
increasing steadily.  Recent press reports have highlighted 
rises in the prices of basic foodstuffs such as eggs, meat, 
and rice, and indicate growing consumer displeasure with the 
increases.  Ministry of Planning figures indicate that the 
consumer price index rose 4.0% in 2006, but price inflation 
appears to have accelerated in recent months.  This inflation 
is being driven by a variety of factors including increased 
government spending, government-worker salary increases, 
rapid population growth resulting in a very tight housing 
market, and depreciation of the Kuwait Dinar (KD) against 
other major currencies, excluding the U.S. dollar.  According 
to the most recent statistics available from the private 
National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the money supply (M2) 
increased a strong 2.8% in November 2006, representing the 
largest monthly increase in absolute terms since September 
2003.  With Kuwaiti imports representing over 40% of GDP, 
changes in the exchange rates of the KD against the 
currencies of Kuwait's major trading partners have impacted 
consumer prices.  The vast majority of Kuwaiti imports are 
priced in euro, yen, British pounds, and U.S. dollars. 
During the last 9 months, the KD has depreciated 5.9% against 
the euro, and 7.3% against the British pound, while 
appreciating 1% against both the yen and the U.S. dollar, the 
latter a result of the KD's revaluation in May 2006 (Ref A). 
 
2.  (SBU) In the past 12 months the price of food has risen 
for nearly all staple food products.  Although complete 
statistics are not available, post has noted the following 
anecdotal changes in food prices in markets around Kuwait 
City:  local lamb has risen from $6.00/kg to $8.50/kg; beef 
from $5.15/kg to $7.00/kg; a small box of tomatoes from $1.80 
to $3.50; apples from $1.20/kg to $1.80/kg.  Because Kuwait 
imports nearly all consumable products, external factors such 
as the summer 2006 conflict in Lebanon have also contributed 
to price increases.  The price of imported Lebanese fruit has 
risen more than 30% since the conflict.  According to 
statistics from the Ministry of Planning, food sector price 
inflation was 6.8% in 2006, but press reports and anecdotal 
evidence suggest this figure is too low. 
 
3.  (SBU) Prices of locally produced food have also 
increased.  Most visible has been the increased price of 
Kuwaiti eggs and poultry products, highlighted in press 
articles as causing significant frustration for Kuwait 
consumers.  Muhammad Al-Mutairi, President of the Union of 
Cooperative Societies, which dominates the retail food 
sector, said that his organization may look to replace 
Kuwaiti-produced eggs and other products with imports if 
price hikes are not stopped.  Imported eggs would be less 
expensive than the current price for Kuwaiti eggs, but still 
more than the price of local eggs six months ago.  Part of 
the increase can be attributed to the recent culling of 
poultry chickens and a ban on the importation of live poultry 
as part of the GOK's response to an avian influenza outbreak 
(Refs B - E). 
 
4.  (SBU) Most severe has been the upward pressure on rents, 
which have risen more than 100% in the last 12 months in some 
areas of Kuwait City.  A one-off salary increase for Kuwaiti 
government workers in 2006 targeted at easing rent concerns 
among Kuwaiti nationals is one factor cited by NBK as 
contributing to the ongoing inflationary pressures. 
According to figures from Kuwait's Global Investment House, 
in 2005 residential rents increased an average of 20-30%. 
Although 2006 figures are not yet available, Post has 
observed that rents for mid-level apartments, such as those 
occupied by Post's FSN staff, increased in many cases 
100-125% in 2006, with FSNs being forced to move out to find 
cheaper rents in other parts of town.  Skyrocketing rents are 
also affecting the Embassy's housing pool costs, with the GSO 
office observing rents 30-35% above 2006 levels.  For 
example, houses that the Embassy rented for $4100 (KD 1200) 
per month in 2006 have risen to $5100 (KD 1500), and in some 
cases are as high as $6800 (KD 2000). 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
KUWAIT 00000410  002 OF 002 
 
 
********************************************* 
LeBaron