Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – Economic experts said most families spend 80% of their income on food items during the holy month of Ramadan, Al-Madinah daily reported. Some supermarkets have already launched marketing campaigns and offers to attract more consumers and sell more products.

Dr. Farouq Al-Khateeb, an economics professor at King Abdulaziz University, said the large supply of foodstuffs in Ramadan aims to attract more consumers. The Ministry of Commerce should send out inspectors and monitor the markets in order to protect consumers against being fooled into buying a large amount of foodstuffs that they do not need.

He criticized the low-price offers that attracts buyers in order to bring quick profits to supermarkets, noting that some of these supermarkets take advantage and put on shelves products whose expiry date is about to end. He called upon consumers to double-check the expiry date of products and report violation to the Ministry of Commerce.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, member of the Saudi Economic Society, said some retail companies offer products for low prices to entice consumers and make quick profits.