Egypt’s Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday introduced caps on bread prices, a move aimed at cushioning citizens from the economic impact of recent fuel price hikes.
The directive mandates that bakeries clearly display both the prices and volumes of bread at their storefronts. Violations of the caps will attract penalties, reinforcing the government’s zero-tolerance approach to price manipulation.
The announcement follows a warning from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who stated that individuals accused of inflating prices could face trial in military courts.
The measure comes shortly after the government increased the cost of gasoline by up to 30 percent and cooking gas cylinders by 22 percent, reflecting rising energy costs influenced by the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
Egypt’s inflation rate stood at 13.4 percent last month, a marked improvement from the record 40 percent recorded in August 2024 during the peak of the country’s economic crisis. Nevertheless, many Egyptians continue to cope with reduced purchasing power, relying on only a fraction of their savings to meet daily needs.
The bread price caps are part of broader efforts by the Egyptian government to manage the cost of living amid ongoing economic pressures, balancing subsidy controls with market regulation.
