The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) has urged the public to report instances of unreasonable price hikes being attributed to COVID-19. 

The Ministry warned in a press release that since the declaration of the state of emergency (S.O.E.) last Friday, there has been an increase in demand from the public for goods and services.

"Customers are advised to report prices of purchased goods that are unreasonably increased," the Ministry stated. 

"As a result of the state of emergency, the increase in the demand for the purchase of goods and products may cause the prices of goods and products in the wholesale and retail outlets to increase unnecessarily and affect healthy competitions in these markets.”

The Ministry has also advised wholesalers and retailers to avoid increasing prices of goods and products.

"Wholesalers and retailers of general merchandise are advised to avoid unnecessary price increase in the goods and products on sale that may affect competition and compel customers to buy at unreasonably high prices," the Ministry stated. 

The M.C.I.L. said it is available to handle complaints laid by the public directed at wholesalers and retailers on the issue.

"The Ministry may re-introduce price control measures should prices of goods and products increase unreasonably.”

The public has been complaining on social media at the increase in prices of some of the products sold in supermarkets.