Inflation Figures
Source:  My friend whose household income is less than 800 Birr a month, living in a poor neighborhood.Buying things in Addis…, since there are no price tags on products and it’s common to negotiate the price, all my female Ethiopian friends who need to take care their household remember the price of almost every food and household items.As you know how harsh the condition of inflation nowadays for many Addis Ababans, let me show you the price increase from last year to now.  (please note that this figure is based on my friend’s memory!)Onion (1 kg) 1.10 Birr to 3.50 Birr
Tomato (1 kg) 1.50 to 5.50
Meat (1 kg) 20 to 40
Bug (1 sheep at festive time) 200 to 400 (or even 600 for big ones)
Berebare (hot pepper) 20 to 65
Cooking oil 10 to 22
Charcoal for cooking (1 qt)  45 to 70
Gas for cooking (1 L) 3 to 4.15
Her house’s electricity (1 month) 20 to 60
Her house’s water (1 month) 7 to 35
Sugar 4.60 to 7
Coffee 10 to 28
Tef (powder for enjera, 1 qt) 300 to 530
Enjera (1 piece) 0.40 to 1.25
Bread (small size) 0.20 to 0.50
Tea (1 cup at ordinary café) 0.25 to 0.50 (but in Bole, 3 Birr!)
Coffee (1 cup at ordinary cafe) 0.50 to 0.75 (but in Bole, it’s around 4 Birr)
Macchiato (1 cup at ordinary café) 0.75 to 1.25 (BUT then in Bole, I found 4 Birr or even more)
Cake (1 piece at ordinary café) 2.25 to 3.50 (it’s more than 6 Birr in Bole nowadays)

Few months ago, at the nice café in Bole, I was listening these numbers from her with full of surprise.  I would not notice inflation if I don’t hear from news or from my friends. Probably the price increase in cafes could turn me realize, but that is still affordable for me to frequent cafes.

I know my friend cannot afford to drink coffee in Bole by herself.

Jihoe5 struggles to cope or balance her luxurious life with their struggles.  But she cannot stop going to cafes and restaurants.  She cannot stop buying expensive chocolates (at least 10 Birr) at farenji frequent supermarkets.  She spends a lot when she travels.  She spends little to help others.  She wishes she could be happier with more simple and inexpensive life.  But she doesn’t try harder or simply turns away.  She only shows sympathy, upset together with her lower income friends for inflation.Following added on November 18 :Today, m

y friend told me sugar has risen to 8 Birr, coffee to 30 Birr and Barebare (hot pepper) decreased to 40 Birr.Though berbare (hot pepper) has decreased, her neighbors still cannot afford to buy, so they must tolerate with alicha (mild taste) wot (stew).

Since sugar is expensive to many of her neighbors, they started drinking coffee with salt (though some culture/region in Ethiopia drink in this way) or nothing inside (this is unthinkable for many!). Although they still drink coffee at least once a day at their homes, they are reluctant to have guests because they not only must offer coffee but must also offer for sugar to add.