Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

Lebanese Families Spend 'Five Times Minimum Wage' on Food

  • By Al-Mayadeen
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Jul 2021 19:15
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

According to food prices in the first half of July, the estimated minimum spending on food for a family of five in Lebanon is 3.5 million Lebanese Pounds, without taking into account the additional cost of water, electricity, or cooking gas.

  • x
  • Lebanese abroad are visiting Lebanon with luggage packed with food and medicine.
    Lebanese abroad are visiting Lebanon with luggage packed with food and medicine

In light of the worsening economic crisis, Lebanese families are spending five times the minimum wage solely on food, according to a study by the American University of Beirut. Meanwhile, the inflation rate keeps on rising as the national currency is devaluating.

Since the summer of 2019, Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented economic collapse, considered one the worst since the mid-19th century according to the World Bank. More than half the population is now under the poverty line, and the Lebanese Pound has lost more than 90% of its value against the dollar.

The Crisis Observatory at the American University of Beirut said that according to the latest prices in July, "A family's budget just for food is around five times the minimum wage," adding that the cost of food has soared by 700 percent over the past two years, and this increase had picked up pace in recent weeks. "The price of a basic food basket increased by more than 50 percent in less than a month," said Nasser Yassin, the head of the observatory. 

Related News

Lebanon's BDL partners with US-based firm to boost financial oversight

Lebanon to launch technology parks to boost high-tech exports

The minimum wage in Lebanon is 675,000 Lebanese Pounds. This was once worth $450 at the official exchange rate; today, it can barely fetch $30 on the black market. 

As the Central Bank's foreign reserves dry up, authorities have begun to ration subsidies or removing them altogether from key goods, such as flour, fuel, and medicine. Painkillers such as Panadol Advance now costs 16,000 LBP per box instead of 2,500 LBP.

The UN Children's Agency surveyed more than 1,200 households in April and found that 77 percent of them did not have enough food or money to buy food. Also, more than 30 percent of these families had at least one child who had skipped a meal or gone to bed hungry.

Despite the economic collapse, opposing political factions have not been able to form a government since the resignation of Hassan Diab's government last August, after the Beirut Port explosion. Nine months after he was designated, PM Hariri said last week he was unable to form a government due to severe political tensions.

President Michel Aoun called for parliamentary consultations next Monday for Parliamentary blocs to choose their new nominees to form the governmnet.

  • Lebanon crisis
  • Minimum wage

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS