Rising costs 結果共35筆

A recent survey in Taiwan indicates a pressing issue with office workers finding their wages insufficient due to rising living and dining costs, highlighting the need for economic adjustments.

Taiwan’s economic minister emphasized the necessity of a power price hike to address rising international fuel costs, but the Legislative Yuan voted to halt the hike due to public opposition. The decision raises concerns about Taipower’s financial stability and power supply.

Discover how Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan voted to halt a planned electricity price hike, a decision driven by public concern over rising living costs and the complexities of energy policy.

Explore the latest economic forecasts for Taiwan as the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research projects a GDP growth of 3.29% and a CPI increase to 2.13%. Amidst stable domestic demand and expanding exports, concerns over rising costs and geopolitical tensions loom. With cautious business investments and the global economic climate’s uncertainties, Taiwan navigates through challenges towards growth.

Discover the ongoing political debate in Taipei as the DPP abstains from KMT-initiated talks on freezing electricity prices amid rising costs due to the Russo-Ukrainian War, highlighting the clash over addressing structural unfairness in charges.

Following a recent earthquake in Hualien, transportation costs for fruits and vegetables have surged, as reported by Chang Te-chi, secretary-general of the Ji-an Township Farmers’ Association. The damage has forced trucks to take a longer route, doubling travel time and causing frost damage to produce. Despite stable prices due to government efforts, concerns grow over rising expenses if the Suhua Highway remains closed. The Agriculture Development Department of Hualien County and the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation highlight the financial strain on farmers and the logistics challenges faced, including increased labor costs and the impracticality of using refrigerated trucks on alternative transport modes.

Lukang Old Street Business District chairperson Huang Shih-chieh expresses concern over rising electricity costs and their impact on food vendors, who may absorb cost increases to avoid raising prices due to declining consumer purchasing power, potentially leading to a vicious inflation cycle.

the year-over-year (YoY) rate in the rent index has been around 2% for the past two years, a relatively high level. The YoY growth rate in March was 2.24%, the highest increase in the past year. Over the past decade, the average annual increase in the rent index was 1.1%. However, since July 2022, the growth has exceeded 2% and has remained at this level. DGBAS officials pointed out three main factors that contributed to the rise in rent. First, the cost of maintaining houses has increased. In recent years, the increase in residential maintenance costs has been significant, with a sharp rise of 5.8% in 2022 and increases of over 3% in 2023 and 2024. 

Explore how Taiwan’s significant electricity rate hike affects businesses and consumers, and the Taipei City Government’s efforts to mitigate these impacts through subsidies and energy-efficient technology upgrades.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an urges central government to empathize with public and small businesses amid electricity price hike concerns. Young homeowners worried about impact on quality of life. City government working to mitigate effects through increased revenue and reduced expenditure.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen addresses the impact of rising electricity prices on the city’s annual costs, emphasizing the need to safeguard public transportation and essential services from the effects of the 11% price hike set to take effect in April. The Taichung Metro company plans to mitigate the anticipated 14% increase through cost-saving and energy-efficient measures.

HeySong Corporation, a Taiwanese company, has announced price adjustments for some of its products after 10-20 years of unchanged prices. The adjustments, set to take effect in March, will see prices increase by 10-20%. The most notable increase will be for the popular 330-milliliter HeySong Sarsaparilla, which will surge by up to 25%. The company attributes the price adjustments to rising costs of raw materials, packaging, transportation, and personnel. The recommended retail price adjustments will mainly affect packages less than one liter, with some increasing by NT$4 and others by NT$5-6. Other beverage brands, such as Taisun Enterprise, have also indicated rising drink prices due to increased international raw material costs. The King Car Group had already adjusted the price of its Pocari Sweat drink in November 2020, marking the first price adjustment in 17 years. Public opinion on the price changes seems to be accepting, with many stating that they understand most products are experiencing price increases as long as the surge isn’t too high.

Amid Taiwan’s Lunar New Year, pet owners face booking difficulties and soaring prices at pet hotels. Tsen Chi-ying, a cat hotel manager, highlights the rising costs and limited capacity, prompting pet owners to seek alternative care solutions.

Taiwan’s wealth gap widens as economic growth hits a 14-year low. Experts call for action to address income inequality and rising living costs.

Taiwan’s 2024 presidential candidates focus on housing issues to win young voters’ support. Opposition parties criticize the incumbent president’s housing track record. Experts raise concerns over rising costs.

50 Lan, a renowned tea beverage chain in Taipei, is set to raise its prices in 2024 due to increased operational and sales costs. Influenced by ingredient costs and labor shortages, the hike marks a potential trend in Taiwan’s popular hand-shake beverage market.

Starting Jan. 1, 2024, taxis from the Taipei Songshan Airport will charge a $50 stay service fee, aligning with fees at Taoyuan and Kaohsiung airports. This decision, made following evaluations by the taxi fare review committees of Taipei and New Taipei cities, aims to address rigorous competition and rising operational costs in the industry. Passengers traveling through the airport, also known as Taipei International Airport, should take note of the new transportation cost changes, especially during peak travel periods such as New Year’s Day, the Lunar New Year, and the 228 holidays. The airport authorities have urged scheduled taxi operators to provide quality service and inform passengers about the fee change through verbal explanations and in-vehicle signs. Additionally, the airport offers free parking for the first 30 minutes, providing some relief for those being dropped off by family members.

New data from Statistics Korea reveals a decline in young married couples in South Korea, with approximately 1.032 million couples within the first five years of marriage as of November 1, 2022. Since 2015, there has been an annual average decrease of 50,000 to 80,000 newlywed couples, projected to fall below 1 million by the end of this year. Around 79% of these newlyweds are marrying for the first time, while over 20% are embarking on a second marriage. Notably, 46.4% of first-time married couples have chosen not to start a family yet, marking the highest recorded rate of childless couples. Economic and housing conditions play a role in these trends, as the average annual income of newlyweds has increased by 6.1% from the previous year, and dual-income households have claimed a larger share, reaching 57.2%. However, despite earning 1.7 times more than single-earner families, dual-income couples have a lower rate of having children. The unique Korean rental system, Jeonse, involving significant security deposit payments, and rising rental costs may further impact young couples’ decision to start a family, adding complexity to South Korean family dynamics.

The New Power Party (NPP) has called for stricter regulations on minimum labor wages, proposing that manufacturers who violate laws should be banned from government procurement. The NPP emphasizes equal representation in decision-making, with a ＂1:1:1＂ ratio of labor, capital, and government-academic parties. They argue that adjustments to the minimum wage should not fall below the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth rate, linking wage increases to inflation and cost of living adjustments. NPP Chairwoman Claire Wang advocates for strict penalties, including adding violators to a government procurement blacklist. The NPP’s draft is inspired by France’s minimum wage laws, aiming to protect workers’ living standards in the face of rising costs.

Chinese children are increasingly experiencing antibiotic resistance when treating Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which poses a global health and economic concern. By 2050, drug-resistant diseases could result in healthcare costs of NT＄31 trillion and economic losses of up to NT＄106 trillion, according to the World Bank. The overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of superbugs, diminishing the effectiveness of these medicines and compromising treatment outcomes. Azithromycin, a commonly used antibiotic in China for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, now faces an alarming resistance rate of nearly 80% to Macrolides. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the dangers of antibiotic overuse and refers to the situation as a ＂silent pandemic.＂ WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expresses concern that antibiotic resistance could bring us back to an era where minor infections are untreatable.

Western Digital Corporation (WD) has announced that it will increase prices in response to the recent price hikes in the memory chip industry. Following Samsung’s 20% price increase, WD has informed its downstream channels and contract manufacturers that hard drive products will be subject to weekly price reviews, with adjustments expected to begin in the first half of next year. The company has projected that the cumulative increase in NAND Flash prices could reach up to 55%. These price increases align with the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization’s projection of a 44.8% revenue growth in the memory market for the coming year. Market research firm Gartner has estimated an even more significant surge, predicting a 66.3% increase in memory market revenue. While this suggests a strong demand for memory products, it also indicates rising costs for manufacturers and potentially higher prices for consumers in the technology sector.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. is preparing to send three giant pandas back to China, potentially leaving the U.S. without a giant panda for the first time in 50 years. All giant pandas rented by the United States are scheduled to return to China by 2024, and no new agreements have been signed. Rising tensions between the U.S. and China, as well as high costs, have led countries to either return pandas early or not renew contracts. China has engaged in ＂panda diplomacy,＂ sending 21 giant pandas to various countries since 2014, with the average lease time extended from 10 to 15 years. In the event of a panda’s death during the rental period, China can claim damages ranging from NT$16 million to NT$32 million from the leasing country.

The Taipei International Travel Fair concluded with attendees taking advantage of travel deals. Industry experts believe that high travel costs are inevitable due to factors such as flight recovery, labor shortage, and inflation. Japan, a popular destination for Taiwanese tourists, also faces similar challenges. The weakening Japanese Yen has led to more domestic travel, increasing competition for hotel rooms. The imbalance between supply and demand has contributed to rising travel costs. To alleviate financial pressures, experts suggest taking advantage of fair benefits and choosing low-cost airlines. For those interested in traveling to Western countries, transferring through Chinese airports may offer relatively lower ticket prices.

Global shipping leader Maersk’s decision to cut its workforce by 10,000 has caused a downturn in shipping stocks on November 6th. Within the first ten minutes of trading, Evergreen Marine (2603) dropped 4% to NT$107.5, while Yang Ming Marine Transport (2609) and Wan Hai Lines (2615) also experienced turbulence with declines of over 2%. Following Maersk’s announcement, the company’s stock price fell more than 18%. The shipping industry is currently facing numerous challenges, including sluggish cargo demand, falling freight rates, rising energy costs, inflation, and geopolitical tensions. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc described these challenges as the ＂new normal.＂ Insiders have noted that the shipping market is not as robust as it has been in recent years, leading to uncertainty and a ＂supply-demand imbalance＂ in the coming year.

Starbucks Taiwan, a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee International and Taiwan food conglomerate Uni-President, is set to boost Christmas sales through marketing activities. Despite rising costs in raw materials, Starbucks Taiwan maintains its long-term marketing strategy of expanding locations and improving store quality without raising prices. Sales revenue during the Christmas period is expected to rise by 10 to 20 percent, leading to a 10 percent increase in stock levels.