(2024-12) WFP VAM Market Monitoring, December 2024: Haiti

WFP VAM | Food Security Analysis HAITI | December 2024 Key Points  At the national level, the average cost of the food basket experienced a slight increase of 5 gourdes in November, rising from 26,385 to 26,390 gourdes.  The Western department was particularly affected, with a 6% increase in the cost of the food basket in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.  Nearly half of the departments recorded price increases: 11% in the Centre, 5% in the Southeast and Artibonite, and 2% in the Northwest.  Sugar (+4%) and vegetable oil (+1%) saw price increases, primarily in the Western, Southeast, and Artibonite departments.  Although prices remained stable, beans were frequently reported as scarce in markets, especially in the Grand'Anse and Southeast. December 2024 | Haiti - Market Monitoring 1 AVAILABILITY Overall, markets were well-stocked. However, some traders reported experiencing temporary stockouts before they could replenish their supplies from regular vendors. These challenges were primarily attributed to financial constraints for some and transportation difficulties for many others, including poor road conditions, roadblocks, and armed gang activity. Instability and insecurity significantly impact market operations. Following the change of Government, waves of violence severely disrupted markets, particularly within the metropolitan area. Nearly 80% of Source: WFP, 2024 households in this area faced periods where access to markets was restricted due to security concerns (The impact of the security situation in mid-November on household food security, here). PRICE TRENDS FOR STAPLE FOODS While prices remained relatively stable across most product categories from September to November, some notable exceptions emerged. Vegetable oil saw a further 1% increase, and sugar prices rose by 4%. Despite stable prices, beans remained scarce in many Source: WFP, 2024 surveyed markets, particularly in the Southeast, Center, and Northwest departments, where a significant proportion of traders reported shortages Moreover, a considerable number of traders in the Southeast, Center, and Northwest departments reported shortages of goods. Average food prices per kilogram by department (in Haitian gourdes) Department Weat flour Rice Maize Sugar Black Beans Red Beans Vegetable Oil Centre 219 +25% 269 +12% 326 +50% 241 0% 417 0% 552 - 5% 1100 - 4% Artibonite 225 +20% 231 0% 174 + 3% 207 0% 458 0% 599 0% 1200 0% Nippes 200 0% 212 0% 196 -10% 250 0% 417 - 9% 552 + 4% 1439 - 2% North 225 0% 231 0% 196 0% 207 0% 500 0% 552 - 9% 1200 + 7% North-East 250 - 5% 269 + 8% 217 0% 241 0% 510 0% 652 + 4% 1200 + 3% North-West 200 + 7% 231 0% 174 0% 207 0% 417 0% 625 0% 1279 +11% West 225 +13% 231 0% 304 - 7% 207 0% 417 0% 542 + 1% 1323 +17% South 200 0% 192 -17% 217 +25% 224 - 7% 417 0% 552 -12% 1439 +13% South-East 350 + 8% 231 0% 196 -22% 241 -15% 417 0% 625 +15% 1599 +25% Grand’Anse 200 0% 231 0% 261 +20% 259 0% 417 0% 667 -16% 1550 +24% increase decrease stable December 2024 | Haiti - Market Monitoring Price trends for products monitored over the year Évolution du Panier alimentaire In November, the security situation severely disrupted market operations, significantly impacting access to essential goods and driving up their prices. The recent crisis in the Metropolitan Zone, fueled by widespread unrest in certain sectors, led to a 6% increase in the cost of the food basket, reaching 27,842 gourdes compared to October. However, at the national level, the cost of the food basket saw only a slight increase, rising from 26,385 gourdes in October to 27,390 gourdes in November. Some regions experienced price decreases, notably the South (-3%), the Nippes (-2%), as well as the North and Grand’Anse (-1% each). Conversely, the departments of the Center (+10%), Artibonite, and South-East (+5% each) recorded the highest increases. Variation du Coût du Panier alimentaire (National et ZM PAP) December 2024 | Haiti - Market Monitoring 3 Graph 1 : Monthly Variation of the Food Basket Cost Graph 2 : Annual Variation of the Food Basket Cost December 2024 | Haiti - Market Monitoring 4 Methodology The methodology used is the same as that of the Joint Market Monitoring Initiative (JMMI), for reasons of harmonisation with the system used by other actors in the Cash Transfer Working Group (GTTM). • Data is collected through face-to-face interviews with 05 traders per product in the market. In total, 502 traders from 58 markets were interviewed. • 10 divisions were covered by the data collection, with a focus on the metropolitan area. A minimum of four (4) markets per department were selected due to their importance. Selection of products and observation units The selection of food products that make up the food basket is based on the Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB). It includes seven (7) basic products that make up the ICSM basket, taking into account the energy requirements of a household of five (5) persons (energy requirement of 2100 kcal). • Wheat flour (30 kg); Rice (20 kg); Maize (10 kg); Sugar (3 kg); Black beans (10 kg); Red beans Data are collected monthly. Tools : Mobile Operational Data Acquisition) - WFP Data Collection Platform Limites et difficultés The lack of availability of certain traders, particularly wholesalers during periods of high demand, or of certain products in certain markets, due to the security situation, may have hampered the achievement of the planned coverage in certain areas and therefore might affect the accuracy of the estimates. PAM | Haïti Wanja KAARIA, Representant Resident Erwan RUMEN , Representant Resident Adjoint Equipe Technique: Smaila GNEGNE, Head of RAM unit Wilfried CHIGBLO, VAM officer Kendy MASSENA, VAM Associate Contact : smaila.gnegne@wfp.org @WFP_Haiti December 2024 | Haiti - Market Monitoring 5