Shoppers welcome price stability as Chinese New Year controls take effect

SHOPPERS preparing for Chinese New Year have expressed satisfaction with the government’s festive season price-control scheme, saying it has helped prevent sharp increases in the cost of essential ingredients ahead of reunion dinners and family gatherings.

Supermarkets and grocery stores were bustling as customers filled their trolleys with staples such as chicken, pork and vegetables, stocking up for traditional meals central to the celebrations.

Accountant Wong Mei Ling, 42, said she noticed only a slight difference compared with prices the previous week.

“It’s not drastic, but at least prices are not going up,” The Star reported her saying.

Wong, who will be cooking for a family of 12, said she preferred to buy in bulk each year.

“I buy chicken, pork, carrots and garlic every year in large quantities. Even with price control, the total still adds up,” she said.

While she found current prices reasonable, Wong acknowledged that festive preparations inevitably lead to higher household spending.

“We don’t really cut down on food for reunion dinner. It’s once a year, so we want to have as much as we can,” she said.

Retiree Tan Siew Kheng, 58, said she was pleased with both pricing and availability.

“Everything was in stock, and the prices were cheaper than I expected,” she said.

She added that vegetables such as carrots and white radish were being sold at fair rates.

“I remember closely monitoring prices during last year’s Chinese New Year. This time, the vegetable prices are quite fair,” she said.

Tan admitted she had been concerned that popular items might either be overpriced or sold out as the festival approached.

“I was worried items like garlic and ginger would be expensive, but prices are reasonable. I was also expecting some items to be sold out today, being a Friday, but everything I needed was in stock,” she added.

Restaurant supervisor Lim Jun Hao, 35, said consistency in pricing mattered more than dramatic discounts.

“For me, it’s not about big discounts or sudden spikes in prices,” he said.

He observed that common festive ingredients, including cabbages and potatoes, were well supplied.

“Cabbage is usually one of the items that fluctuates a lot in availability. Sometimes potatoes run out very quickly, but there were still plenty to pick,” he said yesterday.

Lim said the stability brought by the price-control scheme enabled families to budget with greater confidence.

“At least with the price control, we can plan instead of worrying whether prices will increase again. Even small savings help when you are buying for family gatherings,” he said. - February 14, 2026