China News Service, Taipei, March 7 (Xinhua) Taiwan authorities' Accounting and Accounting Office announced on the 7th that Taiwan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.08% year-on-year in February, hitting a new high in the past 19 months.
In addition, the cap on registration fees for medical institutions has been lifted, and there is news that electricity prices will be raised across the board in April. Taiwanese people are feeling the pressure of rising prices.
According to reports from Taiwanese media such as Central News Agency, United News Network, and Economic Daily, the "General Accounting Office" introduced that food has the largest increase, reaching 4.49%.
Among them, fruits increased by 20.71% due to previous typhoons and other climatic factors; meat increased by 5.45% due to high feeding costs; outside food expenses, aquatic products, cereals and their products increased by 4%, 3.77% and 3.7% respectively; only vegetables increased due to The recent climate is stable and supply is abundant, falling 8.65%.
In addition, the growth rate of 17 important people's livelihood supplies was also more than 3%.
Some Taiwanese media pointed out that people's basic necessities, food, clothing, housing and transportation are under great pressure.
The "General Accounting Office" stated that the increase in CPI was mainly driven by the Lunar New Year effect in February. If January and February are looked at together, the average CPI increased by 2.43% year-on-year, lower than the 2.7% at the end of 2023.
However, the food items commonly consumed by people have increased by more than 4%, which makes people feel deeply about the recent price increases.
In addition, the health affairs department of the Taiwan authorities recently announced that it will stop applying the "reference range for registration fees charged by medical institutions". The upper limit was originally NT$150.
Many hospitals immediately raised their registration fees to NT$170 to NT$500, triggering a public backlash.
The Taiwan Consumer Cultural and Educational Foundation jointly held a press conference with several groups on the 7th to oppose the cancellation of the registration fee reference range, saying that it may sacrifice consumer rights.
In addition to the increase in registration fees, news of an increase in electricity prices also worries the public.
According to Taiwanese media reports, the Taiwanese authorities plan to raise electricity prices across the board in April, not limited to industrial users, and people’s electricity consumption may also increase.
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