{
  "id": 13818425,
  "title": "‘We aren’t meant to just exist’: Iranians lament soaring costs as inflation bites",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/we-arent-meant-to-just-exist-iranians-lament-soaring-costs-as",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-11T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/10/12/we-arent-meant-to-just-exist-iranians-lament-soaring-costs-as-inflation-bites/238665"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tehran, Iran — Inflation is wreaking havoc on everyday life in the Iranian capital, forcing residents to confront skyrocketing costs and an uncertain economic future. At a bustling bazaar, shopkeeper Nasir laments the decline in sales due to high prices, caused by the US-Iran war and US sanctions that have battered Iran’s economy. Customers now buy less, often only one or half a kilogramme of nuts, compared to the past when they purchased two to five kilogrammes. Nasir calls for the government to stabilize the currency to allow businesses to plan ahead.\n\nIran’s inflation rate reached nearly 90 percent year-on-year in September, with food prices more than doubling from the previous year. The minimum monthly wage, which stood at around US$120 a year ago, has plummeted to US$65. Car mechanic Mojtaba Rezaei notes a drastic drop in customers, as goods now cost two or three times more. Many struggle to see a future for their businesses, with manufacturers going bankrupt, staff laid off, and shops closing.\n\nShoppers, whose purchasing power has weakened since the outbreak of the war, often leave the bazaar without buying anything. Azadeh, a 45-year-old woman currently out of work, says she visits the bazaar only to \"watch the shops.\" Rising rents and utility bills add to the pressure on businesses, making it difficult to plan for the future.",
  "summary": "TEHRAN, Oct 12 — At a Tehran bazaar where fragrant herbs and spices whet the appetite, shopkeeper Nasir says local...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}