At the beginning of 2022, the market price of eggs in Taiwan has skyrocketed from about 30 yuan (NT$, the same below) per catty (600 grams) to 70 yuan, and people are buying them.

Now that it is the end of the year, the wholesale price of eggs is still around 50 yuan per catty.

Some business owners said that they started to transfer goods in November, and now they have to wait in line even if they pay to transfer goods.

The egg shortage crisis is imminent again.

　　Lack of electricity, water, labor, talents, "everything goes up, except salary"... The words "increase" and "lack" describe Taiwan's economy and people's livelihood in 2022. appearance.

The word "up" was selected as "Taiwan's 2022 Representative Word".

United News Network Pictures

rise

　　In early December, the results of the "Taiwan 2022 Representative Character Election" were announced. The word "up" won the first place among 55 candidate characters and was selected as this year's representative character of the year.

"The rising sound is the pain in the hearts of the common people," a guest said at the announcement of the voting results.

　　Some people said, "Prices are going up quite a lot now. Everyone feels that shopping and housing prices are going up very fast."

　　Some expert analysis pointed out that in 2022, the real salary available to the vast majority of salaried people will shrink.

The daily necessities of each household generally increased by 10% to 15%.

Those with mortgages, on the other hand, have to pay at least a thousand yuan more each month because of interest rate hikes.

At the end of the year, the wholesale price of eggs in Taiwan is still around 50 yuan per catty.

The egg shortage crisis is imminent again.

Taiwan's "Business Times" file photo

　　As early as March this year, some netizens wondered, "What kind of snacks in Taiwan have increased in price so that people no longer want to buy them?" Once the question was posted on the Internet, a large number of netizens left messages. The top three were popular snacks: hand-cranked drinks and chicken chops. With oyster omelette.

　　"Hand-cranked drink, 15 yuan milk tea that can't go back" "Hand-cranked drink is more expensive than bento from 25 yuan to now, so I don't buy it anymore" "Hand-cranked drink, I haven't touched it for two years" "Hand-cranked drink, already It's been a long time since I quit."

　　"Chicken steak has gone from 35 yuan to 60 yuan now, and I can't start anymore." "Charcoal-grilled chicken steak is 85 yuan a piece." "I went to the night market to eat oyster omelette yesterday. 80 yuan is really scary."

　　In addition, many netizens named fast food, red bean cakes, bread and other delicacies, "the only correct answer is McDonald's", "red bean cakes are too expensive at 20 yuan to 30 yuan a piece", "the price of takoyaki is too exaggerated", "near my home A small bowl of noodles is 75 yuan" "All kinds of bread have become more expensive."

　　According to the relevant departments of the Taiwan authorities, the annual growth rate of Taiwan's consumer price index (CPI) in June this year was 3.59%, reaching a new high in nearly 14 years, and exceeded 3% for four consecutive months, and exceeded 2% for eleven consecutive months. cordon.

In October, the growth rate of Minsheng materials expanded. Bread rose by 8.76%, hitting a 14-year high; toilet paper rose by more than 7%, the largest increase in three and a half years.

　　The latest data released in early December showed that the annual growth rate of the consumer price index in November was 2.35%. Although the price fell slightly, it still exceeded the 2% inflation warning line for 16 consecutive months.

lack

　　At 9:07 am on March 3 this year, power outages were reported across Taiwan one after another, affecting 5.49 million households, setting a record for the longest power outage due to human negligence.

This is the third major power outage of Taiwan Power Co., Ltd. in the past two years. From the "513 Blackout" in 2021 affecting 4 million households and the "517 Blackout" affecting 2 million households, to this "303 Blackout", large and small blackouts have occurred frequently. This has further aroused public doubts about the lack of electricity in Taiwan.

　　In this regard, Taipower has repeatedly assured that the power supply is sufficient and that power outages have nothing to do with power shortages. In order to prevent major power outages, Taipower has invested 564.5 billion to promote the strengthening of power grid resilience construction plans.

However, observing Taiwan's electricity consumption, from 217.2 billion kWh in 2017 to 235.3 billion kWh in 2021, an annual increase of 4.68%, hitting an 11-year high.

Some experts pointed out that the fundamental problem of power shortage has not been solved, even if there is a high-quality power grid, there will be no electricity to send.

　　Silicon Valley layoffs, Taiwan's technology industry is still short of talent?

According to Taiwan media reports, at a previous talent summit forum, some industry players focused their firepower on complaining about the shortage of talents.

　　According to statistics from relevant departments of the Taiwan authorities, Taiwan's population will decrease by 180,000 in 2021 compared with the previous year, and the population has experienced negative growth for two consecutive years.

"Falling birthrates make it very difficult for universities to enroll students," said some university presidents, especially the serious shortage of doctoral students, which will lead to a serious shortage of research energy in Taiwan.

　　In the corporate world, many small and medium-sized technology companies have complained that TSMC and MediaTek, two "big technology companies", have robbed many talents.

　　Some people in the industry also pointed out that instead of trying to solve the population crisis, the Taiwan authorities have made every effort to develop the semiconductor industry and set up a semiconductor college, which has caused a small number of talents to have a sharp increase in salaries and a serious skew in social human resources. are more serious.

　　Not only is there a shortage of scientific and technological talents, but also ordinary labor.

Taiwan media reported that as the epidemic stabilized and business activities resumed, job vacancies in Taiwan's service industry increased in the second half of the year, especially in the accommodation and catering industry, art and entertainment service industry, and other service industries (beauty salon, massage industry). rate rose by more than 4%.

　　According to media reports, the lack of workers has now become the biggest difficulty facing Taiwan's tourism industry.

Some hoteliers revealed that the shortage of manpower has forced them to cancel thousands of banquet reservations.

Some hotel managers also said that in addition to supporting housekeeping work, senior and mid-level executives also need to go to the front line of the catering department to serve consumers.

According to the analysis of the hotel industry, the key reason for the serious shortage of workers in the hotel industry is that the economic market has changed after the epidemic, and the demand for manpower in the technology industry has increased significantly, which has poached manpower from the manufacturing industry, and the manufacturing industry has poached talents from the hotel industry.

Taiwan's "Economic Daily" file photo

　　There are lyrics, life is ups and downs.

In 2022 in Taiwan, there will be ups and downs.

2023 is already around the corner. Can Taiwan in 2023 get out of the "rise" and "lack"?

　　Reporter Shu Yi