Despite a recent decline in inflation to below 100 percent for the first time in four years —reaching 70.4 percent according to the Central Administration of Statistics—this improvement has not translated into relief for Lebanese consumers. The cost of food continues to rise, outpacing the ability of many citizens to cope, including those who earn part or all of their income in U.S. dollars.

According to the Consumer Protection Association, the prices of essential goods and services in Lebanon have been on a steady upward trajectory over the past year, even as the Lebanese currency has stabilized at around 89,000 Lebanese pounds per U.S. dollar. The food price index alone saw an increase of 8.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024.

These figures align with those from the Central Administration of Statistics, which reported a 42 percent increase in consumer prices over the past year, from June 2023 to June 2024; a period that saw unprecedented stability in the dollar's exchange rate against the Lebanese pound. Despite this economic stability, food prices have remained high, leaving many Lebanese families struggling to meet their basic needs.

The disconnect between wages and rising costs is stark, Researcher Mohamed Shamseddine, from Information International, told Al-Modon.

"A family of four needs about $250 per month to manage a very basic food basket, which is extremely minimalistic," he said. He added that when considering the costs of water, bread, and eggs, a family needs at least 14 million pounds, or about $157, monthly. If a family consumes one loaf of bread and six eggs per person daily, they would need to spend around 1.5 million pounds on bread and 9.6 million pounds on eggs each month.

Shamseddine emphasized that these examples not only highlight the soaring prices but also draw attention to Lebanon’s inflation rates, also noting that financial remittances from expatriates have helped prevent Lebanon from falling into an unprecedented humanitarian and economic disaster.

This situation is exacerbated by the fact that many Lebanese households have seen little to no increase in income despite the soaring cost of living. Hanaa Abu Saleh, a Lebanese mother, illustrates this struggle. Earning around $800, plus her husband’s salary, she spends about $400 monthly on groceries.

“Many times, I can’t afford a loaf of bread before the end of the month, even though I try to cut costs as much as possible and avoid luxuries that we used to enjoy just a few years ago,” she told Al-Modon.

Abu Saleh compared her spending between 2021 and this year: "During the economic crisis, a monthly grocery bill at the supermarket rarely exceeded $100 or $120, but now that amount barely covers a week’s worth of groceries."

This has forced her to change many of her eating habits. For example, she has cut back on meat, buying half a kilogram weekly instead of one, as the price per kilogram has risen to around $20. Additionally, her salads now include only two types of vegetables due to rising costs.

"This year, prices are outrageous, affecting everything from vegetables and fruits to meat and even grains," she pointed out.

Similarly, Ibtisam Ghalayini, another Lebanese housewife living on her husband’s salary, describes grocery shopping as a nightmare.

“I no longer have the luxury of stocking up monthly as I’d done for over thirty years. Instead, I shop daily, hoping prices will drop somewhat,” she explains, saying that the prices of vegetables and fruits increase daily.

“Four years ago, 10,000 pounds were enough to buy some vegetables and a loaf of bread. Today, it barely buys a single loaf."

For a family of four, maintaining a basic diet, consisting of three meals with varied ingredients, requires at least 80 million pounds per month. According to data from the Numbeo price index, the cost of a simple breakfast, such as milk, eggs, bread, and some vegetables, or a traditional mankousheh, ranges between 200,000 and 250,000 pounds daily—about 24 million pounds per month.

Lunch, including a basic salad and a main dish of vegetables, chicken, and rice, costs over a million pounds daily, or 34 million pounds monthly. Dinner, similar to breakfast, adds another 24 million pounds to the monthly food expenses. Even in the most frugal scenario, where spending is minimized, by relying on pantry staples or limiting the main meal to one type of grain or legume, a family’s monthly food expenses remain unmanageably high.

As the cost of living continues to rise, the economic future for many Lebanese families remains uncertain. For those not fortunate enough to receive remittances from relatives abroad or who are not among the country's wealthiest, maintaining a decent standard of living is becoming increasingly out of reach.

The situation in Lebanon highlights the severe economic pressures faced by the majority of its population. With food prices climbing relentlessly, and no significant wage increases in sight, many Lebanese are left wondering how much longer they can endure these financial hardships. The cost of basic necessities has reached levels that are unsustainable for most, leaving a large portion of the population struggling to secure even the most fundamental needs.