DAMASCUS -- The unprecedented spike in the prices of all food commodities has forced most Syrians to ration consumption and stop wasting food.

Economist Ammar Yousef told al-Eqtissadi local website that the crisis has developed the consumers' culture consumption due to the rise in prices of most commodities in the market.

"The consumer is now buying only what meets his daily needs of consumer commodities, and this has a positive side as it has limited food waste, which was posing a ratio of no less than 30 percent," he said, adding that this ratio no longer exists among most consumers owing to rising prices of food stuff.

Food price spikes happen because of the steep depreciation of the Syrian pounds in exchange for most hard currencies as well as the crisis profiteering.

Most Syrians believe that a major part of the solution involves getting those root causes under control.

"Food price spikes have overburdened the Syrians and are a big part of the problem," said Ghalia, a mother of nine children.

Ghalia complains of her husband's low salary, explaining that even if the government raises salaries, the problem will not be solved.

"When you spend up to 80 percent of your income on food -- as many poor families are forced to do -- even small increases can have a particularly devastating effect," she said.

"Food prices go up faster and higher than they should ... They increase almost every day," she added.

Nearly four millions of state workers are subject to a pay freeze as the government is passing through a very harsh economic crunch due to world economic sanctions and a protracted crisis.

Over the past two months, food prices have reached levels never seen in the country before even during the most difficult times. They have increased more than three times faster than the average worker's pay package.

"In reality, many are simply making drastic cutbacks by buying cheaper food, going to discount shops or cutting back on the amount or the type of food that they eat," said Hassan, a government employee.

He pointed out that vegetable prices have risen as many have to be brought in the capital from several hotspots in Syria or from neighboring countries.

"The cost of living is rising faster than wages, and household budgets are still under huge strain," he added.

"Unless real wages start to rise again, people will be reluctant to spend, and until they do, our economy is likely to remain in the doldrums," he said.

Samira, a 47-year-old housewife, said "the cost of the weekly grocery shop has increased by a third or even more since the crisis struck," as she was moving from one shop to another at al- Qazazine area in Damascus in search of lower prices.

"I stopped buying a lot of commodities," she said, adding that "Yesterday, one kilogram of Limon was selling at 110 pounds, a price I considered too expensive. Today, I returned to buy it, but the price is 125 pounds."