Mauritania's commerce ministry closed 19 bakeries in Nouakchott on November 1 over what it called unjustified price increases, Points Chauds reported, citing a ministry communiqué. Bread and cereal prices were unchanged from August in September and 6.2% higher than a year earlier, the statistics agency ANSADE said in its consumer price report.
Analysis: Official figures show no abrupt increase in September: bread and cereal prices were unchanged in September and 6.2% higher year on year, compared with 12.5% for food overall. Their 12-month average rose 17.4%, pointing to earlier price pressure. Reports from residents of a doubling to 20 MRU (€0.44) per loaf would mark a sharper change if confirmed. The commerce ministry has disclosed neither the prices charged by the closed bakeries nor the benchmark used to judge them. October's consumer price report, expected around November 10, may clarify whether increases have spread more widely.
Source: Points Chauds, Points Chauds, 'Flambée du prix du pain : le ministère du Commerce ferme 19 boulangeries à Nouakchott' (November 2, 2026), citing a Ministry of Commerce and Tourism communiqué, November 1, 2026 and Late October 2026 and Before late October 2026; ANSADE, ANSADE, Note mensuelle de l’Indice National des Prix à la Consommation (INPC), septembre 2026, September 2026 and INPC base and September 2026 (last 12 months against the previous 12); AMI (state news agency), AMI home page exchange-rate box (BCM rates), page dated Monday, November 2, 2026, November 2, 2026