JOHOR BARU: The prices of some goods are already up with Chinese New Year less than a month away.

Chicken, which usually costs around RM7.70 per kg, now costs RM10 per kg.

Abdullah Ideris, a chicken seller at Pasar Awam Larkin, said the price of the birds supplied by farms had also risen.

“Sometimes the prices go up because chicken feed is expensive, or the value of the ringgit had dropped.

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He said the price control scheme imposed by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry before major celebrations was another reason why prices go up.

“Chinese New Year is just around the corner, so farmers and sellers have set prices higher before the price ceiling is set,” he said.

The move, Abdullah said, is to help them cover losses when the price ceiling is set.

He added that although the demand for chicken during Chinese New Year is low, prices are expected to increase.

“Most of our chicken is exported to Vietnam due to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak there.

“The supply for local consumers will not be affected but the price would still go up,” he said.