Iranians are increasingly struggling to afford basic necessities as rapidly rising prices and the weakening rial squeeze household incomes, according to local reports.
In poorer districts of Tehran, shopkeepers say customers are increasingly asking to buy groceries, meat and even bread on credit. But many businesses are no longer able to provide credit because the cost of replacing their stocks is rising rapidly.
“You sell something today and its price goes up tomorrow. There is no money left to replenish the stock,” a supermarket owner told Iran’s ILNA news agency. He said many customers now ask for credit, while others simply check prices and leave without buying.
Bakeries and butcher shops are facing similar problems. One baker said some customers have been unable to repay their debts for bread, but he continues to provide credit because of their financial difficulties. A butcher said requests for credit had increased sharply, although he could no longer afford to absorb unpaid debts.
The pressure is also being felt in education and transportation. Residents say the rising cost of school supplies, tuition, food and vehicle maintenance is taking an increasing share of household income.
One person said 15 eggs and a small container of yogurt cost 5.5 million rials. Iran’s basic monthly minimum wage for the current Iranian year is around 166 million rials, equivalent to about $70 at the exchange rate cited in the report.
The situation is particularly visible in poorer southern neighbourhoods of Tehran, where residents reportedly search garbage bins outside shops for leftover food. ILNA also reported people lining up at a shop selling chicken carcasses and scraps.
A dairy shop owner said prices had at least doubled over the past year while sales had fallen to around one-quarter of their previous level. Rising electricity costs have added further pressure on small businesses.
Iran has faced years of high inflation and currency depreciation, compounded by international sanctions, restrictions on trade and finance, corruption and economic mismanagement. The continued decline of the rial has increased the cost of imported goods and further reduced household purchasing power.
As prices continue to rise faster than incomes, more Iranian families are being forced to cut spending, delay payments and struggle to meet even their most basic daily needs.
