When prices rise, the greatest burden falls on those who can least afford it—people living on fixed incomes and those without a regular source of earnings. Salaries, pensions and social security benefits remain unchanged while the cost of food, rent, education and healthcare continues to climb. As major festivals approach, households begin to worry not only about rising prices but also about whether essential goods will remain available. For millions of Nepalis, inflation is not an abstract economic indicator; it is a daily struggle to balance household budgets. As the gap between income and expenditure widens, living standards inevitably decline. Families are forced to cut spending on their children's education, postpone medical treatment for elderly relatives and sacrifice other basic needs. Inflation erodes purchasing power and undermines the financial security of ordinary citizens. To be sure, not every increase in prices stems from dishonest business practices. Global commodity prices, import costs, fuel prices, transportation expenses and supply-chain disruptions all contribute to higher prices. However, these legitimate pressures are often exploited by unscrupulous traders who create artificial shortages, hoard essential goods, manipulate prices and reap excessive profits at the expense of consumers.
Protection of consumers’ right a neglected issue as govt fails...
Such practices have become an unfortunate feature of Nepal's marketplace. Collusive price-fixing, anti-competitive behaviour and the deliberate creation of artificial scarcity have distorted market competition. Yet enforcement agencies too often target small retailers while influential wholesalers and larger market players escape scrutiny. As long as the principal offenders remain beyond the reach of regulators, market monitoring will continue to yield limited results. Equally troubling is the government's reactive approach. Market inspections become visible only when Dashain, Tihar or other major festivals approach. Inspection teams fan out across marketplaces, a handful of shopkeepers are penalised, headlines are made for a few days, and the campaign quickly fizzles out. This seasonal activism neither deters profiteering nor restores consumer confidence. It merely creates the appearance of action while allowing exploitative practices to continue once public attention shifts elsewhere. Market regulation cannot be reduced to an annual ritual. Effective oversight requires continuous vigilance throughout the year. The government must move beyond symbolic inspections and institutionalise a system of regular market surveillance. Prices and supplies of essential commodities should be monitored consistently, mandatory price displays strictly enforced, consumer complaints addressed promptly and profiteering punished without delay. Market intelligence should be strengthened to detect artificial shortages and collusive practices before they distort prices.
Long-term reforms are equally important. Improving production, storage, transportation and distribution systems will reduce supply bottlenecks that make markets vulnerable to manipulation. Promoting fair competition and preventing monopolistic behaviour will further discourage unjustified price increases while benefiting consumers. The credibility of market monitoring also depends on the integrity of those who conduct it. Every year, small business owners complain that some officials seek unofficial payments during inspection drives. Such practices not only undermine public trust but also reduce monitoring to a meaningless exercise while intimidating honest traders. If the government is serious about protecting consumers, it must ensure that inspectors themselves are held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. Ultimately, the success of the state should not be measured by the number of shops inspected before festivals but by whether citizens can purchase essential goods at fair and affordable prices throughout the year. People expect a government that prevents artificial inflation, not one that reacts only after prices have already spiralled out of control. If the federal, provincial and local governments coordinate their efforts with determination, artificial price hikes, black marketing and profiteering can be substantially curbed. Protecting consumers from unjustified inflation is not merely an economic responsibility; it is a fundamental duty of a responsive and accountable state.
