Seoul snack shops reel as Middle East-linked inflation lifts grain costs

Small food shops in Seoul, including snack bars and rice-cake stores, are being hit by inflation linked to the Middle East, Yonhap reported. Merchants at the scene said rice and grain prices feel about 30% higher than a year earlier. Still, they said it is hard to raise prices for items such as rice cakes because customers are sensitive to increases. Some shops have seen workers leave, while customers buy only a single roll of gimbap, showing weaker consumption. The pressure from raw material costs and limited room to pass them on is deepening difficulties for self-employed owners. Source: yna.co.kr