Storm fills stores as prices rise

GHOST PRICES： Many stores are offering holiday sale prices, but wholesale produce averaged higher in anticipation of damage to crops from Typhoon Aere

By Jackie Lin  /  STAFF REPORTER

Wed, Aug 25, 2004 - Page 10

The nation's stock exchange and foreign exchange markets were suspended yesterday as the nation was shrouded in heavy rains and high gales brought by Typhoon Aere.

Most public activities were also postponed in northern Taiwan, where the typhoon was expected to make a landing last night, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

Streams of people packed hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores to stockpile household necessities.

"We've seen more than double [the usual number of] customers pouring into our outlets since the doors opened," said Lilian Lee (李莉莉), public relations manager of Carrefour Taiwan, which operates 33 outlets nationwide.

Most shopping carts were filled with dried foods, such as instant noodles, canned food, bread and cookies, as well as with vegetables and fruits, Lee said.

Hypermarket operator RT-Mart (大潤發) tripled its commodity supplies yesterday to meet surging demand, according to marketing manager Fiona Wang (王彤芳).

"The typhoon has come when all retailers are offering preferential prices for the public's preparation for the Chung Yuan Festival (中元節)," she said. "This has led to increasing customer traffic" as most schools were closed and office workers were given a day off yesterday.

The Chung Yuan Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival, is an important folklore tradition to honor the dead with pudu (普渡) ceremonies.

It falls on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, which is Aug. 30 this year.

Carrefour and RT-Mart both reported that retail prices for leafy vegetables, which are vulnerable to typhoon damage, remained unchanged yesterday as sufficient supplies were transported from central and southern Taiwan.

Wang suggested that the public purchase root vegetables and imported produce if farms suffer damage.

Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co (台北農產運銷公司) reportedly increased wholesale prices of vegetables by 13 percent yesterday, according to the company's Web site.

Convenience stores also saw rising sales of batteries, bottled water and dried foods.

"Our boxed meals and bread were sold out in some outlets by early morning," said Esther Lin (林翠娟), a spokeswoman for Taiwan FamilyMart Co (全家便利), which has around 1,600 outlets.

"As the typhoon's effects might step up tomorrow [today], we will offer more supplies to meet urgent needs," she said.

Major shopping areas such as Pacific Sogo Department Store, Core Pacific City Mall and Taipei 101 Shopping Center kept normal business hours yesterday.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store and Takashimaya Department Store, however, stayed closed for safety reasons.