Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Prices fluctuate due to poll

Prices fluctuate due to poll

Pedestrians walk past a row of closed jewelry and gold shops near Phnom Penh’s Central Market.
Pedestrians walk past a row of closed jewelry and gold shops near Central Market. HONG MENEA

Prices fluctuate due to poll

As election data trickled in on Sunday evening and a fear set in borne of uncertainty and a beefed-up police presence, demand for basic commodities surged, food prices briefly rose, and some banks saw an expected rise in withdrawals.

Sales of rice jumped from their normal volume on Sunday, shop owners said yesterday, and prices of noodles doubled amid an election climate that drove up costs of food staples.

Hang Savon, the owner of a rice shop in Phnom Penh, said yesterday that on Sunday evening he had many customers asking for rice and even received phone calls asking for him to quote prices, apparently out of fear that costs had spiked.

“Many people looked more rushed than normal when it came to buying rice,” he said, adding that in two hours, he sold one tonne.

Like others interviewed yesterday, he said a calmer mood prevailed after preliminary election results came in late on Sunday and that prices and volume started to stabilise yesterday.

Initial numbers showed that the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party took home 55 seats out of the 123 up for grabs in the National Assembly; the remaining 68 were swept up by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party in an election marred by allegations of names deleted from voter lists and other forms of disenfranchisement.

Though the opposition nearly doubled its share of seats, party leaders have rejected the figures and called for an investigation.

Logisitics, not fear alone, caused increased demand, as shop owners had not returned from voting in the provinces yet and the availability of goods was not as widespread.

“There will be more sellers and buyers tomorrow because many will arrive in Phnom Penh this evening,” said Som Chhay, the owner of a dried fish shop at O’Russey market.

As reports of small-scale rioting and increased security poured in, lines formed at ACLEDA bank branches in the city on Sunday night, and some ATMs were emptied before being refilled yesterday.

The panic spread, and a handful of customers lined up were only doing so because they saw others taking money out and grew worried.

Leang Seangly, a 51-year-old businessman who sells construction material, said he withdrew $1,000 on Sunday from an ACLEDA ATM in Por Sen Chey district.

“I came to withdraw money following them because I see they are surprised and withdrew money, because we don’t know the situation,” he said.

ANZ Royal Bank CEO Grant Knuckey said that branches did see increased withdrawals over the weekend, but that there weren’t significant differences on Saturday and Sunday.

“This morning, we have been trading as normal at all of our branches, and have replenished ATM cash where necessary,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RANN REUY

MOST VIEWED

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • PM warns of int’l election interference

    With the national election scheduled to take place in less than two months, Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned foreign nations and their diplomats not to interfere into Cambodia’s domestic affairs. He also hinted that their statements on court verdicts handed down to any