Summary:

Hawker food prices in Singapore have not been immune to recent inflationary pressures. In recent years, hawker food in Singapore has steadily become more expensive, driven largely by global supply chain disruptions and escalating operational costs faced by hawkers.

These factors have led to significant price increases observed in popular hawker dishes such as chicken rice and fishball noodles throughout 2022 and 2023. Given that hawker food spending constitutes a substantial portion of the cost of dining out in Singapore, this trend highlights the need for effective policy interventions to preserve the affordability of hawker fare. Maintaining the accessibility of these everyday meals is crucial, especially for lower-income households, as rising food costs contribute to the broader issue of living expenses in Singapore.

Highlights:

• In recent years, hawker food in Singapore has steadily become more expensive. Global supply chain disruptions led to increased prices of imported ingredients, which are crucial for many hawkers.
• Additionally, operational costs such as rent, utilities, and wages have been escalating. This combination of external and internal cost pressures has contributed to the steady increase in hawker food prices.
• Popular hawker dishes such as chicken rice and fishball noodles experienced significant price increases in 2022 and 2023.
• Since hawker food spending constitutes a significant portion of the cost of dining out in Singapore, this trend highlights the need for effective policy interventions to preserve the affordability of hawker fare.

Article By NG, Wee Yang

Graphic By BALAJI, Akshaya