Why do clothing prices skyrocket during Eid?

The last stretch of Ramadan. Stepping into the busy New Market in the capital, Rashida Akter suddenly pauses. Looking at a colourful three-piece outfit, her face fills with surprise.

"This was Tk1,200 last month, now they're asking Tk2,000!" she says with visible frustration.

Another shopper beside her adds, "It feels like when Eid comes, prices celebrate their own Eid too."

Every year, it's the same picture. As Eid approaches, clothing prices in the market suddenly surge—leaving many to wonder: Is this natural, or intentional?

Market shifts under demand pressure

Eid shopping means last-minute crowds, rush, and chaos. During this time, a flood of buyers hits the market.

A seller explains, "Sales aren't like this all year. Before Eid, everyone comes to shop at once, so demand increases a lot."

Taking advantage of this increased demand, prices often start rising gradually—sometimes doubling by the final week.

Seasonal profit

A tour of the market shows that many businessmen consider the Eid season the most important time of the year.

One seller openly admits, "Brother, if we don't make a profit during this time, it's hard to survive the rest of the year."

As a result, raising prices to maximise short-term profit has almost become an unwritten rule.

Price climbs step by step

A piece of clothing doesn't reach the customer directly after production. It passes through wholesalers, dealers, and retailers. At each step, some profit is added, which significantly raises the final price.

However, it's not fair to point fingers only at businessmen. Production costs have also increased. Prices of fabric, yarn, dyes, and labour have all gone up. The rise in the dollar rate is also affecting imported goods.

A market analyst says, "Costs do increase to some extent, that's true. But the problem is, many times products are sold at prices higher than the actual cost increase, because buyers are compelled to purchase."

Brand shops vs local markets

In the Eid market, the price gap between brand shops and local markets is quite noticeable.

Brand shops usually maintain consistent quality and design, selling at relatively higher but stable prices. On the other hand, local markets offer bargaining opportunities, but during Eid, prices often rise quickly and vary from shop to shop for the same item.

Last year vs This year

According to buyers, clothing prices this Eid are higher than last year.

Where a three-piece used to cost around Tk1200–1500 last year, similar items are now being sold for Tk1800–2500. This gap is creating extra pressure for consumers.

Who bears the burden?

The pressure of rising prices is felt most by lower and middle-income families. Especially for larger families, Eid shopping becomes a difficult balancing act.

One parent says, "Before, I could shop for four people. Now, buying for two exhausts the budget."

Eid is a festival of joy, meant for everyone. But when the prices of essential items suddenly rise, that joy turns into pressure for many.

Awareness, market monitoring, and ensuring fair pricing—perhaps the combination of these three can bring relief to the Eid market.