It seems prices are going up every day. The cost of living today is miles away from where it was just a year ago. But what is to be blamed? Most Jamaicans think the worldwide oil price increase is the main culprit.

In a recent Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll, 36 per cent of participants said the rising cost of living was due mainly to increases in worldwide oil prices. Of this number, 44 per cent declared themselves supporters of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) while 32 per cent supported the People's National Party (PNP).

Another 18 per cent believed increases in worldwide food prices were to blame for the local rise in the cost of living. Of this number, 23 per cent were supporters of the JLP, while 11 per cent supported the Opposition.

Fourteen per cent of participants hold the JLP government responsible for the rising cost of living. Eight per cent of participants considered the lack of jobs a reason for the increase in the cost of living.

Gov't should subsidise food

Fifteen per cent of the respondents in the poll, conducted on May 31 and June 1, said the Government should subsidise food prices to help deal with the current pressure on the population. Another 15 per cent cited the need for more jobs, nine per cent suggested more emphasis on farming, while six per cent indicated the need to reduce imported goods.

While prices continue to jump, local consumers say they are more careful when shopping (42 per cent), eating less (27 per cent) or eating less expensive food items (13 per cent).

Pollster Bill Johnson interviewed 1,008 persons in 84 communities across Jamaica's 14 parishes. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent.