Syrian markets are witnessing a new wave of price increases affecting many basic goods and food items, amid complex economic conditions that continue to burden Syrians.
This surge in prices is directly impacting living conditions, widening the gap between incomes and costs. As a result, many families are being forced to reduce their consumption or give up certain essential goods.
The continued rise in prices is also fueling higher inflation in local markets, threatening further deterioration in purchasing power and deepening the social and economic challenges Syrians face in their daily lives.
Sudden surge in prices
Enab Baladi toured several markets across Syrian governorates and observed sharp price increases during the current week, with some commodities rising by around 50%.
The price of one kilogram of whole chicken ranged between 34,000 and 39,000 Syrian pounds ($2.91 to $3.33), compared with 28,000 to 32,000 pounds ($2.39 to $2.74) last week. Chicken breast reached around 80,000 pounds ($6.84) after previously ranging between 52,000 and 56,000 pounds ($4.44 to $4.79), while a kilogram of chicken thighs rose to about 50,000 pounds ($4.27) after being sold for around 35,000 pounds ($2.99).
Vegetables were not spared from the price surge. In Damascus markets, tomatoes reached 20,000 Syrian pounds per kilogram ($1.71), up from 12,000 pounds ($1.03) the previous week. Cucumbers and sweet peppers were priced at around 18,000 pounds per kilogram ($1.54), compared with 11,000 to 15,000 pounds ($0.94 to $1.28) earlier. Lemon prices exceeded 25,000 pounds per kilogram ($2.14) after previously being sold for around 18,000 pounds ($1.54).
The price increases also affected sweets, juices, fruits, and even clothing.
Several vendors told Enab Baladi that sales activity has dropped significantly, with purchases now largely limited to small quantities.
They attributed the rising prices to several factors, most notably higher transportation costs, shortages in local production, and restrictions on importing certain agricultural and livestock products.
Structural and imported inflation
This new wave of rising prices raises many questions about its underlying causes and how it relates to local and regional economic changes, in addition to its direct impact on Syrian households’ purchasing power and living standards.
It also raises concerns that inflationary pressures may continue in the coming period if measures are not taken to curb accelerating prices.
Economic expert and university professor at the Faculty of Economics at Hama University, Abdul Rahman Mohammad, told Enab Baladi that the Syrian economy in 2026 is experiencing a new and severe inflation wave, described as the second of its kind in a short period in terms of intensity. Prices of essential goods have surged to record levels beyond what citizens can bear.
“The current wave of price hikes is not merely a seasonal increase but rather structural and imported inflation at the same time,” Mohammad said.
He explained the economic causes through several key factors:
1. Supply shock versus seasonal demand increase
With the arrival of Ramadan, consumer demand for food and meat increases sharply, placing upward pressure on prices.
Meanwhile, local supply remains limited due to factors such as drought and declining agricultural and livestock production resulting from rising input costs, creating a large price gap.
2. Sharp rise in production costs
Syrian farmers face unprecedented increases in production input costs, particularly fertilizers whose prices have surged due to exchange rate fluctuations and reliance on imports.
For example, the price of a ton of urea fertilizer has jumped sharply, directly affecting production costs and ultimately the final price paid by consumers.
Labor wages and transportation costs, which are linked to fuel prices, have also increased, placing additional pressure on farmers and reducing their profit margins or forcing them to raise prices.
3. Weak currency and imported inflation
Despite discussions about currency replacement and removing zeros from banknotes, the Syrian pound remains weak against the US dollar, making inflation partly “imported.”
The Syrian economy relies heavily on imports for both finished goods and raw materials. Any decline in the exchange rate is quickly reflected in higher prices for both imported and locally produced goods.
4. Disruptions in supply chains and transport costs
Supply chains are affected by internal factors such as weak infrastructure and external factors such as geopolitical tensions in the region. These disruptions lead to delays in transportation routes and increased shipping costs, which are ultimately reflected in local market prices.
5. Weak market regulation
With the Ministry of Economy largely adopting a free market approach and limited oversight of wholesale and retail markets, traders and shop owners often play a major role in price speculation.
In many cases, large price increases benefit intermediaries, while farmers continue to receive low prices for their products that barely cover production costs.
Sharp food inflation
Economic researcher Mohammad al-Salloum said the Syrian market is witnessing a new wave of rising prices that can be economically described as rapid and severe food inflation rather than a typical seasonal increase linked to normal demand cycles.
From an economic perspective, he said the wave results from several structural factors:
The first is the continuous rise in production, transportation, and energy costs. Food supply chains still rely heavily on imported or expensive fuel, adding financial pressure to every stage of the food value chain, from farms to transportation and storage and finally to retail markets.
The second factor is supply bottlenecks caused by weak local production and complications in imports or delays in granting import licenses. This can create actual or anticipated shortages in supply. In such unstable environments, traders tend to price goods according to what might be called “tomorrow’s price” rather than “today’s price,” anticipating future cost increases.
The third factor is the seasonal increase in demand during Ramadan, which is a traditional feature of Syrian markets but now operates within a fragile inflationary environment built up over many years.
The fourth factor is the heavy inflationary legacy that has accumulated since 2019, during which prices of basic goods rose significantly, weakening the value of the local currency and eroding the real value of wages. As a result, even a small shock can lead to noticeable price jumps.
In the broader geopolitical context, the escalation between Iran and Israel also cannot be ignored.
While the relationship may not directly affect daily prices in local markets, such developments increase costs related to energy, transportation, shipping, and insurance in the region and raise risks of supply disruptions, according to al-Salloum.
For a fragile economy that relies heavily on imports to meet food and energy needs, these external shocks intensify existing inflationary pressures.
Inflation may reach 100%
Based on available data and market trends, Abdul Rahman Mohammad estimated that Syria is currently experiencing a stage of severe stagflation.
He said annual inflation during the first quarter of 2026 may approach around 100% or more, warning that some projections suggest it could exceed 124%.
He summarized the economic and social consequences as follows:
Erosion of purchasing power: Salaries and wages can no longer keep pace with the sharp rise in prices, forcing families to reduce consumption of basic goods or abandon them entirely.
Decline in purchasing activity: Despite rising prices, market demand has dropped by up to 40% during the beginning of Ramadan, reflecting stagflation where high prices coincide with weak market activity.
Rising poverty and unemployment: These conditions undermine hopes for a quick improvement in living standards and could push poverty and unemployment rates toward record levels, potentially reaching 60% of the workforce in worst-case scenarios.
Annual inflation expectations
Researcher Mohammad al-Salloum expects overall annual inflation in Syria to range between 40% and 70%, while food inflation for certain goods could reach between 60% and 100%, with significant variation between regions.
According to al-Salloum, the consequences of this wave go beyond purely economic impacts to directly affect the social dimension.
The phenomenon of “food poverty” is expanding gradually, as many families reduce their consumption of proteins and fruits and shift toward cheaper and lower-quality goods, sometimes of unknown origin, which could have potential health consequences in the medium term.
Rapid price increases also weaken the ability of producers and traders to plan ahead, expand the informal economy, and reinforce pricing based on foreign currencies or replacement costs.
What are the consequences?
Abdul Rahman Mohammad said the economic effects of the inflation wave include:
Decline in local production: Rising costs and weak profitability push many farmers and producers to reduce cultivated areas or stop working altogether, increasing dependence on imports and creating a vicious cycle of price increases.
Expansion of the parallel market: High inflation erodes confidence in the national currency, encourages dollarization, and expands the black market at the expense of the formal economy.
Depletion of savings: Citizens lose the value of their cash savings, eliminating opportunities to build local capital that could be invested in the future.
Calls to support production and regulate markets
Abdul Rahman Mohammad proposed several urgent policy measures:
Direct support for production: Instead of random subsidies for goods, he suggested targeted cash support for the most vulnerable citizens alongside subsidies for production inputs for farmers and manufacturers, such as fertilizers, seeds, and fuel, to increase supply and break monopolistic cycles.
Market oversight: Activating the role of the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection to monitor supply chains from farms to consumers and address monopolistic practices and illegal price speculation.
Exchange rate stabilization: Controlling inflation requires serious efforts to regulate the foreign exchange market by strengthening foreign currency reserves and creating transparent mechanisms for external remittances and investments.
National economic transformation strategy: Moving from crisis management to growth-oriented policies by pursuing food and energy security and investing in Syrian human capital both inside and outside the country.
Smart support mechanisms
Economic researcher Mohammad al-Salloum believes that addressing the crisis requires combining short-term relief measures with deeper structural reforms.
In the short term, basic food commodities should be targeted with focused and efficient support mechanisms, alongside revising import restrictions on critical goods and production inputs and regulating profit margins across supply chains.
In the medium term, price stability will depend on lowering production costs in agriculture, poultry, and food processing sectors, improving exchange rate conditions, and building a stronger partnership between the state, private sector, and civil society to manage food security, particularly during sensitive seasons when demand rises, such as Ramadan.
Rising prices in Syria, two experts assess the economic situation Enab Baladi.
Hence then, the article about rising prices in syria two experts assess the economic situation was published today ( ) and is available on ُEnabbaladi ( Syria ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Rising prices in Syria, two experts assess the economic situation )
Also on site :
- Cozy Tuesday, tracking a dangerous heatwave this week
- Trump is hopelessly confused by his own war
- Disgusting! Mamdani Hosts Columbia Hamas Superfan Mahmoud Khalil for Ramadan Meal at Gracie Mansion