A sweet high

In the morning prior to my last post, I had a cup of tea accompanied by a full-fledged teaspoon of sugar. Today morning, my cup was accompanied by a teaspoon of hope...and a chapati. Such is the situation in most Kenyan households. The price of sugar escalated to historical values overnight. I passed by a supermarket yesterday to buy some and was shocked to hear them say that they didn't have any (obviously holding stock). Some places are selling it for Kshs 235!! At such a price, you're better off having plain bread -with salt from our tears- for breakfast. As if that were not bad enough, food prices are shooting up like its a race. Flour, butter and rice are but a few examples.
Speaking of inflation, Kenya's moved up to 16.7% this month, up from 15.5% in July. ANOTHER historical high for my beloved country. Here's what it means: High rates of inflation lead to inefficiency in a market economy and, in the medium to longer term, to a lower rate of economic growth. Movements in the general price level are influenced by the amount of money in circulation, and productivity of the various economic sectors. If I'm not mistaken, the Central bank called back some money a few months back....or was it a plea to citizens to let go of the coins they were holding?? Basically, the money in circulation had/has gone down. Couple this with a depreciating currency and you have a nation of desperation. What one could buy with a money 'X' is much less. That $1000 note book that used to cost Kshs. 80000 now costs Kshs.94000. That's what inflation means.
There's other ways to survive though. As of tomorrow I'm replacing sugar with honey, butter with jam and faith with dreams (they can still come true). Some alternatives are much cheaper and even healthier. After-all, I'm still investing in my physical health and financial future.