Rising prices spark protests in Albania
Thousands of people demonstrated in Tirana on Saturday against rising fuel prices, which have gone up more than 40% domestically in one week.
This is the fourth day of massive protests that have affected several cities in this Western Balkan country, where the average monthly salary is reported to be around 490 euros.
Already low, the purchasing power of Albanians is likely to be battered by price increases due to the destabilisation of markets by the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russian aggression.
Gathered in the central Skanderbeg Square in downtown Tirana, the crowds marched to the seat of government, holding up placards and chanting slogans against the cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
A small group of demonstrators marched to the police station to seek the release of dozens of people who had been arrested in previous protests.
Peru Raises Minimum Wage as Surging Prices Spur Protests
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Protests over prices have intensified in the past week
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The March inflation rate jumped by the most since 1998
Protesters take to Auckland streets over Sri Lanka crisis
A state of emergency has been declared in Sri Lanka as violent protests broke out over the economic crisis that has been dubbed the worst in decades.
A state of emergency has been declared in Sri Lanka as violent protests broke out over the economic crisis that has been dubbed the worst in decades.
For weeks now Sri Lankans have faced severe shortages of food, fuel, gas, and medicine, with the cost of essential goods skyrocketing and day-long power cuts.
Families 1News spoke to in New Zealand worried for their loved ones back home in Sri Lanka, describing the situation there as “a sinking ship”. On Sunday, hundreds took to the streets to speak out against what they are calling an injustice.
On the corner of an intersection in Auckland’s Mount Wellington, people gathered with signs reading “#gotagohome”, demanding the Sri Lankan President quit and for international recognition and governments to step in and help the worsening situation.
Spanish truckers strike continues in third week, as inflation hits 10 percent
Tens of thousands of Spanish truckers continue to defy the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government and its demands that truckers end the strike in the name of “fighting Putin.” Truckers have been on an indefinite nationwide strike for 18 days, protesting rising fuel prices amid the NATO war drive targeting Russia and its energy exports over the war in Ukraine.
Protests over soaring energy prices take place across UK
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the UK in protest against the sharp rise in energy prices, as a cabinet minister said the government could not “completely nullify” the increases.
Demonstrations took place on Saturday, including one near Downing Street in central London where crowds gathered to hear speeches, including from former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Other protests took place in cities including Cardiff and Birmingham. They follow a major increase in the energy price cap on Friday, with average household gas and electricity bills rising to £1,971 a year. A further jump in October could take the cost up to £2,600.
Germany’s Retail Association says food retailers are set to raise their prices by 20-50% as of next week
BREAKING: Germany's Retail Association says food retailers are set to raise their prices by 20-50% as of next week
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) April 3, 2022
Germany: 'Aldi' a discounted grocery store, will radically increase prices for 400 food items. meat, sausage & dairy products will be affected. butter would cost 30% more. Prices of other foods are also increasing drastically b/c of historical energy & natural gas prices surge . pic.twitter.com/Szy5769yId
— @KassMedefer (@KMedefer) April 3, 2022
From energy prices to cheap bread, here’s how countries are dealing with cost of living crisis
The cost of living crisis biting the UK, with energy bills and other price hikes driving a squeeze on many household budgets, is part of a worldwide problem fuelled by Covid, the war in Ukraine and other factors.
Here’s how Britain’s biggest neighbours and other countries are dealing with the problem, from energy price caps to subsidised bread.
France
France has shielded consumers from energy price rises by imposing a four per cent cap on hikes to bills in 2022. It has also cut some tax on electricity to ease the shock, and offered a winter payment of €100 last December.
Emmanuel Macron, facing an election next month, watched on as state-owned energy giant EDF took a £7bn financial hit because of the price cap. Unlike in the UK, most of the market in France is concentrated in this one company, with around 85 per cent of the population using the traditional supplier.
However, the cost of living crunch as a whole, including rising prices for petrol and groceries, remain an issue. Mr Macron has pledged to subsidise petrol by 15c a litre. His main electoral challenger for the presidency, Marine Le Pen, has promised to go further, offering more cash directly to French people.
Spain
Spain’s government has been left scrambling to soften the blow for its citizens amid surprise record levels of inflation, which have reached 9.8 per cent.
Fuel will be subsidised by 20c a litre (or kilo) until 30 June, with the government paying 15c and the energy companies paying five per cent. It will also cut connection fees and tax excess profits as part of its emergency measures.
Rental increases have also been capped at two per cent. The country has seen civil unrest in recent months, leading to gaps on supermarket shelves as hauliers demand support and staged strikes over rising fuel costs. Farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers and larger unions have also taken to the streets recently.
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