Published on 16/10/2024 23:03
Reading time: 1min – video: 3min
Mobilization against the high cost of living in Martinique: why are prices higher than in mainland France?
Mobilization against the high cost of living in Martinique: why are prices higher than in mainland France?
(France 2)
Since September, Martinique has been plagued by demonstrations against the high cost of living. Here, food products are on average 40% more expensive than in mainland France. What are the reasons for these price differences?
In Martinique, food products are on average 40% more expensive than in mainland France. Faced with the anger of the inhabitants, the sign E. Leclerc decided to communicate. A bottle of water sold for 19 cents in mainland France is priced at 64 cents in Martinique. How can this price difference be explained? First, in Martinique, you have to count the price of the raw product (16 cents, like in mainland France). You must add 27 cents for transport and 10 cents for customs duties. There is also 9 cents for unloading at the port of arrival and finally a two cents margin for the E. Leclerc supermarket.
The distributors assure that they are not hiding anything. But a former MP, Johnny Hajjar, who was rapporteur for the commission of inquiry into the cost of living overseas, doubts it. The commission had a lot of trouble working. “Documents were requested from the major distributors interviewed, but the answers obtained remain fragmentary”we read in a report. According to Johnny Hajjar, it is impossible to shed light on the prices charged overseas. Negotiations to lower the cost of living have just resumed in Martinique.
Watch the full report in the video above.
