KUWAIT, Jul 20 (Kuwait Times): Rumors of pending fuel price increases of between five and ten percent have alarmed local consumers, with many fearing that such price rises will inevitably lead to higher prices at the petrol pump, as well as knock-on increases in the costs of food and all other consumer goods. Razan Ali, a 28-year-old employee at a local private sector firm, said any such increase in fuel prices means he'd be forced to take drastic steps: "I think I'd sell my car if the price of gas rises because I don't think th
at my salary is enough to cope with any more increases," he told the Kuwait Times. "My salary already goes on so many other things, like food, drink, house rent, etcetera, so I allocate a certain amount for the gas. I think it's haram when every day something becomes more expensive.

Lima Saad, a 21-year-old student who still receives pocket money from her parents, said that she'd definitely feel the impact of the increase. "An increase in the gas price would cause a crisis," she asserted. "If the gas price increases elsewhere in the world I don't think they'll see the same problems like the people will here because [elsewhere] they have transport at a very low price. Here in Kuwait, I think it would be difficult for most people." Instead, Lima suggested, those who decide these matte
rs should consider reducing fuel prices "because people in Kuwait use their cars a lot and transport prices are expensive.

Thirty-five-year-old Belal Sami, another employee at a local private sector firm, was hoping that the rumors turn out to be just that, saying that any increase would cause a crisis. "There's nothing left to raise the price of in Kuwait; everything's already more expensive," he said. "My salary's already not that much and I'm sending money home to my family, paying rent, paying for food and laundry. Every month I buy a fuel card; if this increase happens, I'll have to buy another one, but I hope this turns
out to be a rumor because [if it doesn't] this really would be a crisis, even if the increase is two percent rather than ten.