Libya is experiencing a rapid surge in food and pharmaceutical prices, with increases reaching up to 25%, alongside a sharp rise in the US dollar against the Libyan dinar on the parallel market. The developments are putting intense pressure on household purchasing power and exposing deep structural weaknesses in the national economy, according to citizens and economic experts, who spoke to Al-Wasat newspaper.
For many families, the impact is immediate and painful. Souad Rashed, a widow supporting her family, told Al-Wasat newspaper the price of a litre of milk jumped within a single week from six dinars to 7.5 dinars, while a can of tuna rose from 6.5 to 8.5 dinars. She also noted that bread has become noticeably lighter in weight, pointing to declining quality alongside rising prices, a combination that further burdens low-income households.
The surge has not been limited to food. Hassnaa Al-Rajbani, a pharmacy owner in Tripoli, confirmed that medicine prices have also risen sharply in recent days. She said increases were sudden and widespread across different categories of drugs, worsening the situation for patients, particularly those with chronic illnesses who rely on daily medication.
Ali Al-Zatrini, a government employee, described daily life as increasingly unpredictable. “Prices are rising every day, making it almost impossible to plan household spending,” he said, citing higher costs for rice and other staples as evidence that inflation is spreading across most essential goods.
Official data supports these accounts. The Libya Trade Network, affiliated with the Government of National Unity, reported price increases of between 5% and 25% for several basic commodities. Bakery flour rose from 240 to 270 dinars, cooking oils increased by up to 7%, sugar prices climbed by between 5% and 12%, and tomato paste recorded a 6% rise.
Economists link the trend directly to the weakening dinar. Analyst Ali Al-Warfali said the gap between the official and parallel exchange rates has reached about 30%, warning that prices could rise by a similar margin. He added that citizens are facing a “double squeeze” from reduced liquidity and declining purchasing power.
Another analyst, Adel Al-Maghrabi, said price increases began emerging in September and estimated overall inflation compared with last year at between 25% and 29%. With cash shortages persisting despite official denials, many Libyans fear further deterioration in living conditions unless urgent economic measures are taken.