Houses Minor raise concerns of Food Shortages

Several Houses Minor have lodged formal pleas with the Landstraad today over fears that un-named Houses are stockpiling food stuffs . Although no official shortages have yet been declared, there has been a significant shortfall in food stuffs available this month. Analysts have put the increase in demand for food stuffs over the past months as temporary increase for redevelopment projects and maintenance of House food stockpiles. Local markets are still healthy and food stocks are no still well above critical levels. Yet, further concerns have been raised that current food production levels are struggling to sustain the growing Imperial population.

Current CHOAM Charters only meet a third of Imperial economies demand and mentat projections estimate that food production levels can only meet 80% of the economy's needs. Fears that this announcement may lead to further increases in demand from panic buying and food stockpiling are already surfacing. A demand fuelled price increase could also potentially harm several of the smaller Houses still trying to rebuild their economies, whilst other Houses may see this as an opportunity to launch speculative attacks by withholding other goods from the market One House representative has been reported saying: “This is has the potential to become a serious issue if we don't deal with this now. No one is has mentioned this yet, but everyone is thinking about the Essen famine as a nightmare scenario. We want assurances that the situation is under control.”

The food shortage follows on from other shortages, namely recent the munitions crisis that took place several months ago. Many commentators in the Landstraad have serious doubts about the current stability of the economy and the ability of CHOAM to continue to regulate effectively The CHOAM Directorship is already facing criticism after its failure to resolve the munitions crisis and the latest investigation surrounding Directors House Poritrin, with the latest problem casting further doubt over its competence. With investors and market confidence already at such a low point, fears that we may be entering a serious recession are beginning to grow.

CHOAM Officials have yet to release an official statement, however an emergency session of the Directorship has been called later this week to discuss a response.