CONSUMERS will have to dig deeper into their pockets come next Monday when they purchase a 5kg bucket of FMF Breakfast Crackers.
A government statement released yesterday announced the 12 per cent increase, attributed to international rises in the price of wheat and the consequent rise in the price of flour, which is a basic ingredient for crackers.
The statement said the increase meant consumers would have to pay $2.79 extra.
It said that "fortunately, this rise only applies to the 5kg plastic pail (the bucket) of the FMF Breakfast Crackers", and added that the price for other quantities of the same biscuit remained unchanged.
The increase was made on the recommendation of the Fiji Commerce Commission, and would come into effect from Monday January 14.
Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum described the rise as unfortunate but that it reflected rising costs in the international market for wheat and was beyond Fiji's control.
"These market fluctuations represent 20 per cent of the cost of making these biscuits," Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
But he said the Bainimarama government was committed to maintaining price controls on breakfast crackers because they were a staple of the family diet.