Parliamentarian: Prices have risen by 30%… and the government has failed to control the exchange rate.
Parliamentarian: Prices have risen by 30%… and the government has failed to control the exchange rate.
2026-10-20
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday, MP Duha al-Sadkhan, from the “National Approach” bloc, said that the government has failed to control the exchange rate of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar in the parallel market, which has affected the prices of various goods, especially food, fruits, vegetables, medicines, and basic necessities for citizens.
Al-Sadkhan told Shafaq News Agency that food prices have increased by about 30%, which has affected citizens, especially those with daily income.
She called on the government to fulfill its duties and commitments regarding controlling the dollar exchange rate in the parallel market, demanding that the Ministry of Trade issue decisions and instructions that specify the prices of food, fruits and vegetables, whose prices she said have risen significantly, directly affecting citizens.
Based on a decision by the Council of Ministers, the Central Bank of Iraq decided to amend the exchange rate of the dinar against the dollar, so that the selling price of the dollar to the public would be 1520 dinars, compared to 1510 dinars for banks and 1500 dinars for the purchase price of the dollar from the Ministry of Finance, effective from October 7, 2026.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pledged to control the exchange market and end speculation and dollar price discrepancies, taking full responsibility for the decision to adjust the exchange rate.
As a result, the prices of a number of food items in Iraqi markets witnessed a significant increase, while some traders immediately raised the prices of goods, while others preferred to stop selling until market developments became clear.
shafaq.com
