FADING FORTES


FADING FORTES

Hand-made artefacts for sale around the Arat Kilo area fetch an average of 100 Br. From wall decors to bread baskets, colourful crafts adorn most homes in Ethiopia. As the nation navigates the troubled waters of galloping inflation and frequently disrupted supply chains over the past few years, bread sold in the markets has lightened in weight while increasing in price. Residents of the capital have been particularly struck by the soaring prices of bread as the capital's subsidised bakery, Sheger Bread, suspended operations for several months last year due to wheat shortages. While general inflation rates have come down to around 27pc in recent months according to government figures, Johns Hopkins economist Steven Hanke calculates it to be around 60pc.  

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