FALLOUT from the COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to tighten their purse strings, Super Value President Rupert Roberts has said, while noting "more and more" shoppers have been relying on the store's food stamps to shop.

Mr Roberts said prices were increasing all around, including on building supplies with items like plywood seeing an exponential increase.

This follows his prediction last month that grocery and meat prices will increase by eight percent and 10-12 percent respectively by Christmas.

Mr Roberts told Tribune Business that a combination of increased demand, as the Bahamian and global economies continue to reflate following COVID-19, combined with soaring freight and trucking costs and other supply chain bottlenecks, were all feeding into increased food prices.

Super Value has a programme that gives shoppers stamps after purchases, which can be redeemed in the future for a discount on your grocery bill.

Asked yesterday if this meant there was increased use of food stamps, Mr Robert said: “Of course, they are using more and more of the stamps. I have seen some get the stamps from that day’s purchases and cash them right there and then.

“People have it tight and some families are finding it very difficult to budget.”

He continued: “It’s like plywood. It’s gone from $17 to $71 dollars or $81.”

For 32-year-old single mother NaKesia Nairn, her Super Value food stamps have been a “life saver” as she lives from pay cheque to pay cheque.

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