Prices of round fruits soared in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday as the city’s Filipino-Chinese community geared up for the Chinese New Year, reports abs-cbnnews.com.
A bag of clementines, locally known as kiat kiat, and said to symbolise financial success, cost PHP60-100 (US$1.35-2.26), up from the usual PHP25 (US$0.56), on Chinese New Year’s eve, the article said.
Grapes, priced at PHP200 (US$4.5) per kg on normal days, sold for PHP300 (US$6.77) per kg.
Prices of longans, ponkan (Chinese honey orange), pomelos and pears also went up as vendors expected a sudden spike in demand.
Round fruits are widely believed to bring prosperity to anyone who serves them during Chinese New Year celebrations.
The Year of the Rabbit begins on Thursday 3 February.
