VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0234/01 0991441
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081441Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4817
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 1409
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 7276
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5518
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0826
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4892
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 3594
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 2127
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000234 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA; NSC FOR SINGH/GAVITO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2018 
TAGS: EAGR EINF PGOV SY
SUBJECT: INFLATION ADDING TO SYRIA'S ECONOMIC PRESSURE 
 
REF: A. 07 DAMASCUS 949 
     ¶B. DAMASCUS 209 
     ¶C. DAMASCUS 55 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4(b,d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (C) Driven in large part by sustained higher prices for 
fuel and food, inflation is contributing to domestic economic 
pressure in Syria.  While the IMF estimated Syrian inflation 
to be 14.4 percent in 2007, internal Post surveys place the 
figure above 18 percent, with inflation of consumable goods 
even higher.  Two years of drought and increased external 
demand for Syrian produce is compounding the local impact of 
global food inflation.  The SARG's attempts to control 
domestic food prices by restricting exports could exacerbate 
Syria's economic difficulties if farmers stop producing 
rather than accept prices below their production costs. 
Syria's public sector, which employs some 35 percent of the 
workforce, has not had a raise since 2004 and consumer 
purchasing power is low.  As the SARG moves cautiously closer 
to removing diesel subsidies, which will immediately increase 
prices for all goods and services, the majority of Syrians 
are increasingly anxious about feeding their families and 
making ends meet.  End summary. 
 
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A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) In January 2008, the SARG's official news outlet 
(SANA) reported that inflation had dropped to 4.4 percent in 
2007 from 10.6 percent in 2006.  The IMF's analysis, however, 
showed inflation in Syria actually increasing from 5.6 
percent in 2006 to 14.4 percent in 2007.  Since June 2006, 
Post has conducted a quarterly price survey on a basket of 
100 goods at various stores in greater Damascus.  Our data 
reflects a cumulative inflation rate of 23.2 percent since 
June 2006, and 18.2 percent since June 2007.  Notably, the 
inflation rate of consumable goods alone would be even 
higher, as our overall average is skewed downward by the 
inclusion of durable goods.  When consumer spending began to 
contract in 2007, the prices of many durable goods, such as 
apparel, actually decreased as merchants attempt to sell 
remaining inventory. 
 
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WHAT'S DRIVING INFLATION 
------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) As in many other parts of the world, inflation in 
Syria is being driven by the increasing cost of fuel and 
food.  Sustained high oil prices have widened the gap between 
global market prices and SARG-subsidized prices for gasoline 
and diesel in Syria, resulting in rampant fuel smuggling to 
neighboring countries.  As Syria became a net importer of 
refined petroleum products in 2007, the SARG struggled to 
insulate the Syrian public from international prices.  A 
heated public debate over the possible elimination of 
subsidized diesel resulted in an "anticipatory" jump in food 
prices at local markets in late summer 2007, which was 
compounded further by seasonal price increases associated 
with Ramadan in September (ref A).  Since November, the SARG 
has increased the price of gasoline twice, by a cumulative 33 
percent (ref B).  In fall 2007, higher fuel costs were also 
reflected in the utilities sector, as the SARG increased 
prices of water and electricity. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In addition to fuel prices, other factors are also 
contributing to high food prices in Syria.  Two years of 
drought in Syria's northeastern heartland have resulted in an 
approximately 15 percent lower wheat yield in 2007, which is 
estimated to drop by yet another 20 percent in 2008.  At the 
same time, high oil prices (reflected in shipping costs) have 
increased demand for Syrian wheat by regional importers, such 
as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.  Chicken and eggs, 
the primary sources of animal protein in Syria, have 
increased in price by over 100 percent since early 2007 due 
to a comparable increase in the price of feed (which accounts 
for 80 percent of poultry production costs).  As Syria 
imports almost all of the corn and soybeans used to 
manufacture chicken feed, these prices have been passed to 
the Syrian consumer.  (Note: In 2007, U.S. exports 
represented 77 percent of all corn and nearly 50 percent of 
all soybeans imported by Syria (ref C). End note.) 
 
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INFLATION'S IMPACT 
------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) The most obvious impact of inflation is that 
consumer purchasing power has dropped considerably as wages 
have not kept pace.  The Syrian public sector, which employs 
approximately 35 percent of all workers, has not received a 
raise since August 8, 2004.  The last raise was a scaled 
increase of between five and fifteen percent of base salary, 
provided the increase was not less than 600 SP (USD 12) and 
not greater than 2000 SP (USD 40) per month.  According to a 
recent op-ed in the government daily Al Thawra, minimum wage 
employees in the Syrian public sector today earn less than 
USD 200/month.  Our estimates indicate that the majority of 
Syrians who comprise the lower class spend some 70-75 percent 
of their monthly income on food, while for middle class 
citizens food expenses account for about 20 percent of their 
monthly budget.  According to local media reports, Damascus 
store owners observed a 30 percent decrease in domestic 
consumption in March 2008 compared with March 2007. 
 
¶6. (C) In an effort to control domestic prices, the SARG has 
prohibited grain and animal-feed producers from exporting 
surplus produce to foreign markets where it would fetch a 
higher price.  Several wheat farmers have subsequently 
started selling irrigated crops for grazing sheep just to 
recoup production costs, having calculated that they would 
lose money by actually harvesting the crops, transporting the 
produce to government purchasing centers, and bribing the 
necessary officials only to receive below-market prices.  The 
SARG has since threatened to fine farmers 5000 SP (USD 100) 
per dunam for any crop sold for grazing.  A similar 
phenomenon is occurring with Syria's cotton industry, which, 
including textile and apparel production, employs nearly 20 
percent of the Syrian labor force.  Since the SARG has not 
increased the price of cotton to keep pace with production 
costs, reports indicate that many cotton farmers have opted 
not to plant in 2008.  If this situation persists, a 
record-low cotton yield could come at an already difficult 
time for the Syrian economy. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7. (C)  While the wealthy Damascene elite continue to spend 
on luxury goods and restaurants, the majority of Syrians are 
already struggling to make ends meet.  To soften the eventual 
additional blow of removing diesel subsidies, Bashar will 
likely give the public sector a raise, although locals expect 
it not to keep pace with inflation.  Indeed, many are 
complaining that rumors of a wage hike are driving prices 
higher still.  In the end, we doubt the SARG is worried that 
inflation will lead to uprisings against the regime.  But, 
Bashar's cautious approach to enacting economic reforms -- 
especially lifting diesel subsidies -- suggests he is 
concerned by a negative public reaction at a time when Syria 
faces external threats from Israel and continued pressure 
from the U.S. and Arab states over Lebanon. 
CORBIN