Tunis — Outgoing Premier Hamadi Jebali went Friday morning to the wholesale market of Bir El Kassaa (governorate of Ben Arous) to enquire about the rate of supply in farming produce and the difficulties facing all the intervening parties.

Speaking to Mr. Jebali, the farmers said the prices of their goods suited tunisian consumers' purse and expressed surprise at the rise in prices of the same goods displayed by retail traders.

The middlemen spoke for their part of their problems which include low wages, long working hours and deprivation of their professional rights.

Minister in charge of Economic Affairs Ridha Saïdi told TAP news agency that this visit is part of "following up the supply of the wholesale markets in fruits and vegetables as well as the rise in prices" especially after the rise noted in the consumer price index.

According to the latest statistics published by the national statistics institute, the inflation rate reached 6% last January and the consumer price index rose by 0,8% last January compared with last December.