VZCZCXRO0591
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHAM #1149/01 1081218
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171218Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2276
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 5941
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 2835
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3614
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 3866
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 1935
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1140
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 4978
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHLMC/MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/EX, EEB, M, HR/OE 
CAIRO FOR FAS AGMINCOUNS PKURZ 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV EAGR ENRG JO
SUBJECT: GOJ WORKS TO LESSEN IMPACT OF CONTINUED INFLATION; CUTTING 
PRICES AND TAXES ON KEY COMMODITIES 
 
REFS: A: Amman 1034 
 
      ¶B. Amman 815 
      ¶C. Amman 26 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Inflation in Jordan increased by 1.73% in March due 
to the continued rise in electricity and food prices.  The 
government has responded by lowering customs and taxes on several 
food stuffs; by making its commissary stores not-for-profit; and by 
executing a deal with the Government of Egypt for rice.  These steps 
are designed to ensure a continual, plentiful supply of commodities 
with a minimum of speculation in the marketplace.  Representatives 
of private grocers and rice traders complain that these actions will 
severely impair their businesses, but government officials say these 
steps are modest, and serve primarily as a signal that the Jordanian 
government is addressing inflation.  End Summary. 
 
Inflation Continues 
------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Inflation in Jordan continues at a steep rate.  Jordan's 
Department of Statistics (DOS) reported a 1.73% increase in the 
monthly Consumer Price Average (CPA) between February 2008 and March 
2008 after a 6.54% increase in February (ref B).  The report 
attributed March's inflation to the rise in "fuel and lighting" 
costs led by increased electricity prices (10.3%), as well as 
increases in fruit (11.6%), meat (2.7%), and vegetables (6.5%). 
Prices for two categories -- dairy and clothes -- both declined 2%. 
The report also showed a 10.8% increase in prices for first quarter 
2008 when compared to the same period last year. 
 
¶3. (U) Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Director for Markets 
Monitoring Imad Al Tarrawneh estimated that the prices of basic 
foods have increased 52% since last year.  In addition, gasoline 
prices, which are now set every 30 days, were raised 5% on April 10. 
 Prices are set by a government committee on the basis of average 
international prices during the preceding 30 days. 
 
Government Intervenes to Control Some Prices 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The rising prices have provided fodder for the opposition, 
with the Islamic Action Front (IAF) maintaining a steady drumbeat of 
criticism, and IAF Secretary-General Zaki Bani Irsheid recently 
declaring that social unrest will lead to "a very big explosion." 
In response to public concern, King Abdullah instructed the cabinet 
on April 13 to take urgent measures to protect Jordanians against 
the impact. 
 
¶5. (SBU) A senior government official confirmed to the Ambassador 
that while the Government of Jordan (GOJ) has no intention, nor 
means, to introduce price controls, it does plan to introduce 
several initiatives aimed at lessening the impact of continuing 
price increases (ref B).  The official explained that GOJ intends to 
cut the value-added tax (VAT) and other import taxes on commodities; 
to develop a hedging strategy for wheat and other commodity import 
purchases; to increase the stock of basic commodities in government 
commissaries; and to use MOIT inspectors to ensure that retailers 
pass these cost savings along to consumers.  The official explained 
that all of these steps will help ensure that there is a continual, 
plentiful supply of commodities with a minimum of speculation in the 
marketplace. 
 
¶6. (U) The local press announced on April 16 the Cabinet's consumer 
price-cutting plan in response to King Abdullah's directive.  The 
plan expands customs and tax exemptions on additional food items, 
including frozen meat, and increases taxes on luxury items such as 
alcohol, tobacco, and satellite receivers.  The government 
previously eliminated customs duties and taxes on 13 items including 
sugar, rice, and cheese in January (ref C). 
 
¶7. (SBU) The plan also changes the government commissaries to 
non-profit businesses, and recommends opening an additional 22 
branches.  Khalil Al Haj Tawfiq, Chairman of the General Association 
for Food Stuff Merchants, criticized government support of the 
commissaries, arguing it disadvantages Jordan's 11,000 small 
retailers and suppliers who may be forced to leave the industry.  He 
said that the government-run commissaries have been able to keep 
 
AMMAN 00001149  002 OF 002 
 
 
prices low because of long-term contracts with suppliers.  He noted 
that suppliers are increasingly paying fines and not fulfilling 
their contracts, rather than meeting contract prices which are often 
far below market prices.  He predicted that many of these contracts 
will not be renewed in the future.  Al Tarrawneh and two major 
commodity suppliers told EmbOff that some suppliers are committed to 
providing the government commissaries with products at very low or 
no profit margins.  One supplier commented "this is our market, our 
people, and our government.  We need to share the burden."  Al 
Tarrawneh added that the changes at the commissaries are a political 
move to calm consumers, and that the market share of commissaries 
has risen only slightly from its previous level of 5%. 
 
Is There an Economic Crisis? 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Prime Minister Nader al-Dahabi also told the local press 
that the government will reduce the sales tax on steel, which is 
widely used in construction; will impose a ban on the export of some 
Jordanian produce; and will maintain current subsidized bread prices 
throughout 2008 (ref A).  Dr. Musa Shteiwi, Director of the Jordan 
Center for Social Research, said that Jordan is in an "economic 
crisis" and may not be capable of handling it.  New Central Bank of 
Jordan Deputy Governor Kholoud Saqqaf acknowledged the current 
economic hardships, but added that it was somewhat reassuring that 
the problems were global and not unique to Jordan. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The GOJ has also concluded a government-to-government rice 
deal with Egypt following Egypt's announcement last month banning 
rice exports.  Rice traders expressed dismay saying that this will 
put them out of business and will further increase the national 
budget burden.  Muhanned Gesh, MOIT Director of Tenders, explained 
that the deal represents only half of Jordan's monthly consumption 
of rice, but is primarily a signal to Jordanians that their 
government is alert and ready to intervene for their interests. 
NOTE: Most rice consumed in Jordan is purchased by traders, with 40% 
of Jordan's annual consumption coming from the U.S.  END NOTE.  MOIT 
is also expected to make a decision by April 17 about the timing of 
its next 100,000 ton wheat purchase, with some experts recommending 
purchasing now as a hedging mechanism before the early summer 
harvest, and other experts advising to wait for lower prices, 
pointing to declining barley prices as evidence of falling commodity 
prices. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
HALE