According to official statistics, the consumer price index of Taiwan rose by 1.4% in March, the highest margin in nearly four months. Price hikes have been observed in almost all the major categories of products, and the rise in fruit prices is especially sharp.

Housewives are spending more and more of their time comparing prices in the hopes of finding a good bargain.

Many retailers have had to hike prices since Chinese New Year in light of rising global raw material prices.

According to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics' latest consumer price index, prices rose by 1.41% in March.

Garment prices rose by 2.68%, compared to 2.58% for transportation and 1.86% for food.

Guava prices doubled from 15 NT to 30 NT per catty, while silver pomfret prices rose to 350 NT per catty.

Meanwhile, the price of lilyturf, which is a Chinese medicinal herb used to treat coughs, increased 70% to 550 NT per catty.

Many consumers say that they are under a great deal of pressure because their wages are stagnant while prices keep rising.