The growing demand for wheat products is taking its toll as consumers in Fiji will have to fork out more money for flour and sharps from tomorrow.

The Prices and Incomes Board has announced that effective from midnight, the retail and wholesale price of flour and sharps will increase.

The new retail price of a kilogram of flour will be $1.03, an increase in 10 cents per kg.

The price of 1kg pack of flour will now cost $1.12, from $1.02, two kg pack price increases from $1.89 to $2.08, while 4kg packs will now cost $4.25, an increase of 37 cents and 10 kg packs will cost $10.34 which used to cost $9.40.

Similar price changes will affect Sharps. The new price for a kg of sharps will be $1.04, an increase of 10 cents, two kg pack price increases from $1.90 to $2.09, while 4kg packs will now cost $4.28 an increase of 37 cents and 10 kg packs will cost $10.40 which used to cost $9.44.

The PIB said this increase follows the increase in the world market price of wheat as demand exceeds supply creating a shortage of wheat in the market. The drought in Australia, competition for wheat and the increasing demand for bio-fuel crops are contributing to the shortage as well.

The Prices and Incomes Board will be monitoring the movement in wheat prices.