Prices for instant noodles are going to increase nationwide. This new wave of price increases will mainly be for medium- and lower- end products and the prices will rise at an average rate of 20 percent, with the highest hike to be around 40 percent.

So, will this be difficult for people to accept? What will they say? Let's have a look at some media's opinions.

Report:

An article from Modern Express comments that, it is very natural for instant noodle makers to change prices to keep up with the costs fluctuations. Maintaining a very low price is not necessarily what the Price Law calls for. People will not be too critical as long as the price increase is reasonable. The author says in today's market economy, we should not employ the Price Law to enforce the prices. He also says, when the prices of such things like oil and water have all gone up, the public should be prepared for price hike on other products.

An article from the Shanghai based China news website tries to figure out the reasons behind the price hike. Apart from the element of rising costs, the author attributes the price increase to the following three reasons: inflation, the major producers working together to control the prices, as well as the self-adjustments of the market. The first two reasons may harm the current market, while the third reason is more acceptable.

Yanzhao Metropolis also has an article concerning price monopoly. It notices that, in this round of price increases, the industrial association of instant noodle manufacturers plays a very significant role. The members of the association have actually formed an alliance in order to monopolize the whole industry as well as to control the price. The article says even if it's necessary to raise the price, it should be the decision of individual manufacturers, not that of an industrial association. The general public is concerned about the price hike, but it should pay more attention to how it happens. When this kind of price alliance gets stronger, the interests of general public will be further damaged.