Roundup: Fuel price hike sparks public concern in Malawi

LILONGWE, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A sharp increase in fuel prices announced by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) on Monday has triggered public concern, with many Malawians warning that higher costs will push up prices of basic goods and services.

Under the new pricing structure, petrol prices rose from the equivalent of 2.02 U.S. dollars to 2.86 dollars per liter, representing an increase of 41.6 percent, while diesel prices climbed from 2.02 dollars to 2.85 dollars per liter, up by 41.1 percent.