Wuhan Residents Face Rising Prices For Masks & Groceries, Some Paying S$10 For Cabbage

Public Transport In Wuhan Shut Down, Prices Of Necessities Go Up Like Crazy

The Wuhan coronavirus is sending shockwaves across the world. Wuhan, the ‘epicentre’ of the epidemic, is currently under lockdown as all modes of public transport are suspended.

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Residents staying in the Hubei capital are also facing another problem – rising prices of necessities like groceries – with some paying as much as $10 for a head of cabbage. Shelves in supermarkets are also empty as people chiong to stock up on what they needed.

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Cabbage sold for S$10 in Wuhan

During the 2019 African Swine Fever outbreak, Wuhan pork prices reached an all-time high of S$5.75/kg. Back then, Wuhan residents prayed that the price of pork would one day drop to the price of cabbage.

Now, that day has arrived, and not because pork has gotten cheaper, but rather because the price of cabbage has skyrocketed.

Translation: I used to wish that the prices of beef and pork will be the same, and it came true! Then I wished that pork and cabbage will have the same price…… today, it, arrived!
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A head of cabbage now range from S$5.84 (RMB30) to S$10.03 (RMB 51.50), according to netizens on Weibo.

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Tomatoes and cauliflower going for exorbitant prices in Wuhan

The humble stir-fried egg with tomatoes dish that’s common in China might also be less affordable now, given the high prices of eggs now.

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This person paid S$10.32 for just 1.866kg of tomatoes, equivalent to $6.88/kg. For comparison, these vegetables are only going for $2.75/kg at NTUC. Talk about an inflation.

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Cauliflowers prices have also been on the rise — this, which weighed 2kg, cost S$7.93.

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Cauliflowers were going for around S$0.50/kg in Jun 2018.

Wuhan pork prices are even higher

Pork is practically as valuable as gold now, seeing how this pack of pork belly costs S$24.72.

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Empty shelves in Wuhan supermarkets

Empty shelves were also spotted at supermarkets as people stock up on groceries.

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‘Leftover’ vegetables that were not bought were left scattered around.

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We’re not sure which problem is worse — having expensive groceries or not even having groceries to buy.

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Suppliers accused of raising masks prices

Netizens also accused shopowners of “making a profit off the county’s crisis”.

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Here’s the rant translated from Chinese:

I don’t know about other cities, but I know the pharmacy is raising the prices like crazy, one mask usually costs 15 yuan (S$2.92) but now it has inflated to 30 yuan (S$5.82) or even (S$7.79), and that’s normal.

My friend resorted to buying it online, but it turns out that the prices on Taobao surged to more than 100 yuan (S$19.48). She wanted to buy some which would cost her hundreds. I really despise those who use the nation’s crisis as an opportunity to earn money.

I understand if prices go up by a little but if the prices rise so much, what other motive is there aside from earning money?

E-commerce sites like Taobao have, however, pledged not to inflate the prices of medical essentials like masks and disinfectant, reports South China Morning Post.

E-commerce site He Ma’s pledge to not increase prices and to operate round the clock
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Hope crisis ends soon

It’s sad to see that many people are suffering as a result of the Wuhan virus outbreak.

We hope that the crisis will end soon and that in the meantime, shopowners will not raise their prices in an unreasonable manner.

Featured image adapted from Weibo and Weibo.