Temporary controls have been imposed on food prices and transport fares in quake-hit provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi, and Chongqing municipality to prevent hoarding and speculation.

Local authorities announced the move after the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on Wednesday, ordering them to carry out daily monitoring and price controls and to punish speculators.

In Mianyang, one of the major regions hit by the 7.8-magnitude quake on Monday, there have been reports of food vendors raising prices to double previous levels, or higher. Some have been fined.

After the earthquake, many supermarkets in Chengdu and some smaller counties were closed. Instant noodles, biscuits, bottled mineral water and fruits were in high demand. Packaged milk was sold out in Aba prefecture in Sichuan Province. Fruit and vegetables in parts of Sichuan and Gansu provinces saw steep rises from 11 to 200 percent, according to Xinhua statistics on May 13.

Provincial price regulators in affected areas also urged local medicine, steel, cement and food companies to maintain stable supplies and prices.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2008)